GOVERNMENT OF TRANSITION AND PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION - VENEZUELA

"Presidential election. There can not be democracy without a democratic election, so on January 10, 2019 there will be no elected president. We know that the current presidential performance is dictatorial and is determined to forcibly impose its continuation for six more years. But Venezuela wants to get out of this hell where the inflation of more than 1,000,000% pulverizes all wages and makes life catastrophic, trapped by the debacle of all public services and corruption without limits, while production sinks and the vast majority (more than 80%) is in poverty. No misleading word from the government can hide this tragedy.

Civil government of transition. To get out of that imposed and illegitimate government, we must unite the internal protest and international pressure for a transitional government for the immediate (January 2019) opening to economic-social changes, the reconstitutionalization of politics (recognition of the AN, separation of powers ...) and the rapid creation of democratic conditions for the presidential election that, according to the Constitution, should be done by the end of 2018, that is, in these days of November-December.

The recent (26-11-18), extraordinary and hopeful National Free Venezuela Congress includes in its Manifesto the fundamental tasks of the transitional government to respond to the national tragedy with immediate measures, at the same time that advances the changes and route for elections democratic and reliable jousts before the end of 2019. (Legalization of parties and candidates, cessation of their persecution, release of political prisoners, return of exiles, change of the CNE, cessation of the illegitimate ANC, separation of powers, reinstatement It also seems necessary to establish a double electoral round for the presidential election (with primaries or without them, as appropriate) and a period of four years with only one possible re-election. .

Urgent measures and international support. Transition with immediate economic-social measures to tackle hyperinflation and public spending financed with inorganic money; promotion of production and investment with legal guarantees; rescue of the purchasing power of the salary, replacement of four or five of the most necessary social programs ("missions") with the development of efficient policies of economic compensation.

Educational mobilization with exceptional emergency measures and a new climate of cooperation in schools with true synergy between family, society and State ... Throughout 2019 transparency must be developed with truthful information about the great looting and rescue (where possible) of thousands of millions of dollars stolen.

It is not possible to get out of this death situation without a strong international help that will not come with the current government, because it has neither the will nor the capacity to make the change. From the beginning of the transitional government, strong international humanitarian support is needed in medicines, food, collaborative measures such as debt refinancing, loans ... and requires full international openness and transparency.

In the formation of transitional government, the legitimate AN plays a central role and in its integration there must be a decisive and credible participation of the business world, of the democratic Armed Forces, of a prominent woman in social struggles or in the world of work and some significant person of the "process"; all determined and with previous commitment on basic measures and democratic elections, with an economic model capable of obtaining strong international support and stimulating national production and recovery investment. The president of the board can not be a candidate in the first presidential elections.

Negotiation. To achieve this, a great internal and external pressure combined with the concrete negotiation for the exit of the government and the transition with change of model, replenishment of the Constitution and democratic elections with international conditions and guarantees are essential. In this negotiation, those international actors discredited by the way they participated in the previous "dialogues" should not participate.

Yes, an international accompaniment of reliable governments is needed. It will also be essential transitional justice explaining to the population how to avoid impunity for serious crimes, without falling into revenge and lynchings that further divide the country and make reconstruction difficult.

All this requires (and in turn produces) a spiritual rebirth of reconciliation and solidary reunion, promoted from now on so that, in the midst of the harshness of the situation, we have a merry Christmas with a true experience of "God with us", present in the manger of Bethlehem and in the solidary rebirth in all Venezuelan society.

Let us think now of the steps to create the transitional governing board, so that on January 5 the election of the presidency of the AN respects the established agreements and at the same time provides the right person to preside a few days after the government of transition whose tasks are precise and urgent.

A transitional president (with a board) who resigns to be a candidate for the next elections, with the capacity, breadth and will to achieve a superior unity so that Venezuela can be reborn from its ashes. The various parties must give it strong support, but their possible candidates will be reserved for the coming democratic elections, once all the conditions have been restored to be free, fair and transparent. "