Venezuelan elections: HOV solidarity statement

Around the world HOV activists have been planning activities in support of Chavez in the December 3 elections. Today, the following statement was handed into consulates and embassies in Argentina, Austria, Britain, Canada, Denmark, Israel, Italy, and Poland. The statement is also available in Danish, German, Hebrew, Spanish and Polish. You can also read the statement of the Iranian Revolutionary Socialists’ League.

Solidarity events have also been planned to take place at Venezuelan embassies on Sunday and Monday. For more information on events in London please click here.

Venezuelan Elections: HOV Solidarity Statement 

London, November 29, 2006

We would like to express our support for the re-election of president Hugo Chavez in the forthcoming presidential election on December 3^rd, as an expression of our support for the progressive reforms particularly in the fields of education, health and the beginning of land reform.

We note with great concern the manoeuvres of the opposition which seem to be aimed at looking for a justification not to recognise the result of the presidential election. The Bolivarian revolution has proven its democratic credentials on many occasions. It is precisely the opposition which has resorted to military coups, sabotage of the economy, appeals for foreign intervention, etc., in order to put an end to the Bolivarian revolution.

The current opposition candidate Manuel Rosales was an active participant in the undemocratic military coup which overthrew Hugo Chavez on April 11, 2002. The Venezuelan opposition has no moral authority to complain about alleged “authoritarianism” of the Chavez administration or the “lack of transparency” in the elections.

We commit ourselves to defend the democratic will of the Venezuelan people and to fight against any attempt by the oligarchy or imperialism to de-legitimise the results of the elections.

We appeal to the British government to recognise the results of the presidential elections in Venezuela and not to repeat the shameful behaviour of the Foreign Office during the coup in 2002, when it recognised the illegitimate government of Carmona.

Hands Off Venezuela