President Nicolás Maduro affirmed this Monday that his government will administer 85% of Venezuela’s municipal territories, following the results of the elections of last July 27. The announcement came during a massive event in Miraflores Palace (Seat of the National Government in Caracas) that simultaneously commemorated Hugo Chávez’s 71st birthday and the first anniversary of Maduro’s presidential reelection in 2024.
From the People’s Balcony, the president delivered a forceful message: «We will govern 85% of the municipalities so that they respect us. We are the sons of Bolívar and Chávez, destined to lead Venezuela for this entire century.» He stressed that the Chavismo has held seven municipal elections since 2000, despite what he described as «blockades, pandemics, and imperial aggression”.
Maduro harshly criticized international media, especially CNN: «To those who silence our achievements: Venezuela keeps going onward. Threats and sanctions will not stop us,» he emphasized to the assembled crowd.
An event with multiple meanings:
The event combined various celebrations: Chávez’s legacy, the anniversary of the presidential victory, recent municipal triumphs, and the approval of youth initiatives. The president was accompanied by newly elected mayors such as Carmen Meléndez (Caracas) and Gian Carlo Di Martino (Maracaibo), announcing that his *ConMaduro+* television program would present documentaries about the 2024 electoral campaign «for collective reflection.»
Vindication of the Model:
In his final remarks, Maduro defended the Venezuelan political system: «No country surpasses the Bolivarian Republic in participatory democracy,» he declared, while the packed plaza chanted slogans in support of the government and Bolivarian socialism.