Venezuelan woman participating in the popular consultation this Sunday, April 27, 2025. Photo: Venezuela Presidential Press.
On Sunday, Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro highlighted the broad participation of the people in the second National Popular Consultation of 2025, when 5,338 communes and communal districts—comprising 47,214 communal councils throughout the country—voted to select the projects they will prioritize for improving their communities.
In a telephone conversation with Venezuelan Television (VTV), President Maduro emphasized the importance of this model in which the people build a new state and, through self-government, first collectively identify the projects and then decide, in assemblies, which are the priorities. Subsequently, they vote sovereignly and directly on which projects to finance, and finally carry out the work to improve and beautify their communities.
He highlighted the participation of the people despite the rains that have affected various regions. For example, in Táchira state, there was flooding in San Antonio and Ureña, yet a record turnout was achieved. He added that there was also a record turnout in Zulia, despite the rainfall there.
“We are building a new, direct, true democracy for all,” stated the president. “This is not a matter of parties or ideologies. We have identified the path in which the people participate, plan, execute, and control, without bureaucrats, corruption, inefficiency, indolence, or other obstacles. Step by step, we are moving forward in building a new, direct democracy.”
Maduro emphasized the community-based and participatory nature of this model, which empowers people, in contrast with the false and electoral-driven nature of bourgeois democracy. “We are perfecting it through popular wisdom, based on the opinions of ordinary people,” he added.
The Venezuelan president recalled that all communities have their own planning methodology and agenda, which now includes the objectives of the Seven Transformations Plan (7T). “Communities are free to choose,” he noted, while explaining that the method is being refined, and people are becoming more aware of their priorities.
President Maduro Invites Venezuelans to Participate in April 27 Popular Consultation
This year, as a new feature, the nation’s general budget will be available to finance the projects, he assured.
The Venezuelan president affirmed that the best investment that can be made with this budget is in tangible agendas for community action and development. “The future has already arrived, and it bears the face of the people,” he stated.
Maduro highlighted the role of communicators, particularly grassroots communicators, as protagonists of an alternative type of communication who bring the reality of the streets to social networks and media, contributing to a new democratic, open, and proactive model radiating from the people.
Translation: Orinoco Tribune
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