President Maduro: To more sanctions, more elections, more democracy, more people

The President of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, Nicolás Maduro, congratulated the ANC for its decision to call for the Presidential elections in the first four months of 2018, an action that he described as correct.

“I congratulate the ANC for having taken this step in order to strengthen the democratic spirit, the peace of the country,” said the Head of State minutes before presenting his speech before the massive rally held to commemorate the popular rebellion on January 23, 1958 and to condemn the betrayal by the Governments of the 4th Republic to this struggle.

The President asked the Venezuelan people to support the call of the ANC and the Electoral Power, in charge of preparing and organizing the electoral event.

He assured that he is willing to be the candidate by the Revolutionary forces, if so decided by the social and political forces.

The Venezuelan President said that with this call for elections he tells the world that: “To more sanctions, more elections, more democracy, more people”.

He exhorted the opposition factors to participate in the Presidential elections.

“I tell the opposition not to run away from the elections. We await for you in the presidential elections (…) May the opposition not get out of democracy, may the people be the one to decide if they want to continue making the Homeland, or whether they want to take a step back”, he said.

He expressed sureness and confidence on that he will obtain “a great popular victory” in the elections called by the originary power.

Dialogue:
When asked about the dialogue process, he said that the Government is always present and recalled that it was he, as Head of State, who convened this process.

He asserted that, of being ratified the date of January 28 and 29 for a new meeting in the Dominican Republic, the Government delegation will be present.

“I believe in the dialogue because I believe in the word” he said, adding that with an electoral process in the door, dialogue is more necessary.