Venezuelan government steps on the gas to implement socialism

Chávez has clearly stated that food is not a commodity. Therefore, food items must be kept out of the marketing chain (File Photo: Reuters)

Economy
The final implementation of socialism in Venezuela is closer than it looks, and only a few measures remain to be enforced. President Hugo Chávez started to speed up socialism as soon as he learnt that his proposed changes to the Constitution were rejected by voters in a referendum held in 2007.

After his plans to implement his socialist model were defeated in the vote by a "minimum majority," which is the way the Venezuelan ruler termed the results of the referendum he lost in 2007, his government started -without any major setbacks- a race to pave the legal way to allow for implementation of a new political and economic system.

Until now, the government has met the goal. Most of the objectives required to achieve a socialist state have been accomplished.

The Venezuelan ruler understood almost a couple of years ago that the time to advance his revolution had an expiration date.

"The conditions may be favorable, but if we do not see them, if we do not take them, and if we do not seize the moment, the decay begins," said President Chávez in 2007.

Before being appointed as Minister of Planning and while involved in ideological activities, Haiman El Troudi stated that the Venezuelan socialism was divided into four stages.

The first stage -between 1998 and 2001- was characterized by the implementation of populist measures to cover basic needs. The second stage -until 2006- was intended to set up the structure of socialism.

The third stage -defined as the transition to socialism- is the current period. According to El Troudi, the third phase is to end between 2013 and 2015, giving way to the final installation of socialism.

New wave
Workers and peasants have advanced class struggle, land reform, occupations of factories, and controls over the economy. Now, the government is increasing pressures, by expropriating food processing industries -a sector that some government officials deem "more strategic than a refinery," as the new minister of Trade, Eduardo Samán, said some days ago. Based on socialist theories, the next step is the expropriation of banks. Chávez has clearly stated that food is not a commodity. Therefore, food items must be kept out of the marketing chain.

According to Chávez, the law of supply and demand must not be used in Venezuela, because even this vital law will change when socialism is implemented.

(CJR EDITORIAL ADDED)...man thats no s! people will demand toilet paper but will get supplied window scrapers....change the law of supply/demand...please!

The Bolivarian Revolution ideologues have said repeatedly that the population, through organized communities, must take control of the means of production. However, it was only last week when government officials echoed such ideas.

Some days ago, on state-run television channel VTV show La Hojilla (the Razor blade), Minister Samán said that the regulations and controls that have been exercised over the private sector are not sufficient. Therefore, the government must intervene in production, particularly of food staples.

Among the few policies pending for implementation, the National Assembly is pondering the creation of councils that are to govern factories, a move that is part of Leon Trotsky's Transition Program. Chávez has conceded he is interested in the socialist theory of Trotsky -one of the architects of the Russian Revolution.