It is no secret that in today鈥檚 corporate-dominated media landscape, Venezuela appears almost ubiquitously as a synonym of 鈥渄ictatorship鈥.
This is why many may be surprised that Venezuela will hold its 23rd election in 18 years on December 10 when Venezuelans go to the polls to elect local mayors.
The United Socialist Party of Venezuela鈥檚 (PSUV) victory in the October 15 elections for state governors is a major blow to the country鈥檚 right-wing opposition, as well as to its backers in Washington and Europe.
The victory also marks a significant step forward in the struggle to defend the gains of the almost two decade-long pro-poor Bolivarian Revolution, spearheaded by late former President Hugo Chavez.
After weeks of imperialist threats and opposition violence, the elections for Venezuela's National Constituent Assembly (ANC) took place on July 30. The result was a huge of more than 8 million voters, around 41% of the electorate, which gave Chavismo a much-needed shot in the arm.
Venezuela has been rocked in recent weeks by almost daily protests and counter-protests, as right-wing opponents of socialist President Nicolas Maduro seek to bring down his government.
While the media portrays these events as a popular rebellion against an authoritarian government, supporters of the pro-poor Bolivarian revolution initiated by former president Hugo Chavez say the country is witnessing an escalation in what is an ongoing counter-revolutionary campaign seeking to restore Venezuela鈥檚 traditional elites in power and reverse the gains made by the poor majority under Chavez and Maduro.
Venezuelan trade union leader Esmin Ramirez was killed on April 23 in Guayana City in the south-eastern state of Bolivar after being kidnapped in an act that people close to him say was politically motivated.
Ramirez was a member of the Movement 21 union in the state-run iron ore producer Ferrominera and a member of the governing United Socialist party of Venezuela (PSUV). The union leader was killed by several gunshots to the head. He had been kidnapped the night before.
Workers from Venezuela's 'housing mission', which is building large numbers of public housing, march on Venezuela's independence day, July 5. Photo from .
Venezuela's Bolivarian revolution has transformed the country since the rise to power of late socialist president Hugo Chavez in鈥 鈥1998鈥 鈥琽n a platform of tackling poverty and promoting participatory democracy.
Trade unionists from more than 30 countries met in Caracas for the Third Union Encounter of Our Americas also expressed their support for Venezuela and willingness to mobilise to stop any possible aggression.