Mujica Fears a Left-wing Coup in Venezuela
HAVANA TIMES – The outgoing president of Uruguay, Jose Mujica, confessed that he fears a left-wing military coup in Venezuela, “and if it happens the defense of democracy will go to hell.”
“It would be a grave error to leave the Constitution,” said Mujica, who on Sunday will leave office, turning over the presidency to oncologist Tabaré Vázquez, a fellow member of the progressive Frente Amplio coalition.
The comment was made to the “El País” of Montevideo newspaper, which today ran a preview of an interview with Mujica, scheduled to appear in full in the Saturday edition.
Currently “there are smart ways to destabilize a government” and “it’s much easier to lead a government to commit stupidities,” Mujica said.
The Uruguayan president clarified: “that doesn’t mean such is happening in Venezuela”. “I do not know what is happening in Venezuela; they have a supply crisis and dissatisfaction among the people, that I have no doubt of.”
On Wednesday, Mujica warned that there are those who want “to overthrow the government” of the constitutional president of Venezuela, Nicolas Maduro, and that “nobody likes the idea being overthrown.”
“That causes tension” that exists these days in the South American nation, said Mujica, at a time when the Uruguayan political opposition demands a statement on the subject.
Madura will not fall to a right wing conspiracy. That is a fictional construct used by Maduro. A Coup from others on the left to install a more competent leader makes a lot more sense. It would be better if Maduro could limp to end of his term, but he has brought so much pain. The population can endure his administrations incompetence only so long. Even the Cuban’s are working hard to hedge their bets with Brazial, Russia and even the United States.
Did Pres. Mujica cite any evidence to support his concern that there could be a left-wing military coup? That would be important.
If there was to be a left-wing uprising against the government of Pres. Maduro, it wouldn’t likely come from the military, at least not initially.
There are significant forces to left of the Venezuelan government, but the locus of power of them is not in the military, but in the barrios among revolutionary grassroots organizations and paramilitary groups. An uprising of the Venezuelan left would almost certainly come from the masses, not the military. However, this seems quite unlikely. Unlike the Venezuelan right-wing, the Venezuelan left, including the far left, is deeply committed to and invested in democracy.
It is important to note the forces to the left of Pres. Maduro’s government are a significant factor in Venezuela.
The left-wing grassroots played a major role In a right-wing coup carried out in 2002 by disloyal sectors of the Venezuelan military in collaboration with the oligarchy and the chamber of commerce. As Pres. Hugo Chavez was held captive, the left-wing masses poured out of the barrios and into the streets – many of them armed. It’s been widely reported that they chanted, “bring back our President now!” What has not been widely reported is that the the armed protesters also chanted, “Rich people – bring back our President now, or we are coming to your neighborhoods now!” Faced with this threat from the angry masses, Pres. Chavez was released by the coup makers the next day. The coup makers clearly decided that they’d rather deal with Pres. Chavez than with the armed masses.
The majority of the Venezuelan military remained loyal and helped put down the coup makers, but it was the mass armed protests that played the key role. The Venezuelan oligarchy and right-wing, and the United States government which backs them, would be wise to keep this in mind.
Of course the outgoing president can make comments based on pure speculation at this time ( as should it be all peoples right too) but the facts prove there still is a ongoing right wing wing coup and economic destabilization taking place for some 14 years that I would be more worried about.
I suggest he should also question why his own country is still capitalist at his departure and why his country had occupation troops in Haiti at the behest of the UN and US imperialism.
Mujica is probably the least hypocritical leftist politician in South America. As far as I have ever read or heard, he walked it like he talked it. So if he feels comfortable making a public statement like this it can only be because he knows something that the rest of us don’t have access to. Pressure from Maduro’s left makes sense. These are the people who see the remaining wealthy capitalists who continue to support the Maduro regime as an affront to their Bolivarian revolution. As long as the leader of the Parliament, Diosdado Cabello, continues to support Maduro, it is unlikely the left or the right will be successful in Maduro’s overthrow. It is Cabello that controls the military and Venezuelan generals are making money hand over fist these days. No reason to rock that boat so far. Besides, Maduro’s Cuban puppetmasters still see mileage left in Maduro. Once Raul decides the Maduro clown show has run its course, a change will be made. Not one minute sooner.