Within the framework of the «Con Maduro+» program, the President of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, Nicolás Maduro, announced that the Fourth National Popular Consultation concluded with the approval of 10,672 development projects, following the participation of 5,336 community circuits throughout the country.
The Head of State instructed that «the resources be allocated immediately» for the execution of the projects, and emphasized: «This year we are culminating in a community offensive, building projects for the people.»
During his intervention, President Maduro highlighted the democratic significance of the consultation, stating: «The Fourth Popular Consultation demonstrates that Venezuela has a People’s Power and an authentic democracy, because it has empowered leaders in every territory.» He also emphasized the leading role of the citizenry: “In here rules the people, that’s the motto. Never again will the oligarchies rule. We achieved record participation with neighborhood democracy, with citizens going door-to-door in their communities and deciding how the country’s resources are distributed.”
For his part, the Minister of People’s Power for Communes, Social Movements, and Urban Agriculture, Ángel Prado, highlighted the track record of success of this participatory mechanism, revealing that, as a result of previous National Popular Consultations, 23,000 projects have been completed nationwide.
Minister Prado also underscored the broad participation of Venezuelan youth in the November 23rd event, “who assumed the role of spokesperson for People’s Power.” He affirmed that this consultation reflects the communities’ commitment to participatory and protagonistic democracy, consolidating an organizational model that allows for defining priorities and implementing projects originating from the grassroots.
To guarantee the governance and planning of these projects, Prado noted that “each commune has a Self-Government Hall, a communal parliament, economic structures, and Justices of the Peace,” which constitute the structural basis of communal power in Venezuela.
With this Fourth Consultation, the National Government reaffirms its commitment to the model of direct democracy and the transfer of resources and power to organized communities for the construction of projects and solutions from the local field.