The Communist Party of Ireland expresses its solidarity with the working people of Venezuela and congratulates them on holding successful elections and on the positive outcome of the election of the Constituent Assembly, despite widespread violence and intimidation by the right-wing opposition.

The establishment of the Constituent Assembly is another progressive step forward.
     
The working people of Venezuela have shown great courage and determination in defending the gains of the last decade or more, achieved through struggle and sacrifice by the Bolivarian process, despite both the violence of the opposition and its international backers, the United States and the European Union.

The duplicitous role being played by both the Venezuelan opposition and the United States is shown by their supporting the call for a Constituent Assembly then taking up a position of opposing it.

They have embarked on an orgy of violence and destruction, of sanctions and artificial shortages, and even the deliberate destruction of food supplies.

The vote on Sunday 30 July was an affirmation of the democracy and sovereignty of the Venezuelan people and the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela.

Working people everywhere must now rally in solidarity with the workers of Venezuela as they face into an uncertain period, confronting an opposition, both internal and external, that has no hesitation in using violence, including murder, to secure its interests.

The people of Venezuela must be allowed to decide their own future, free from all external threats, pressures, and sanctions.

The outcome of events in Venezuela will have consequences beyond the borders of Venezuela and may well have a profound impact upon the progressive advances won by working people throughout Latin America and beyond.

The CPI also expresses its solidarity with the Communist Party of Venezuela at it strives to defend but also deepen the struggle for more radical change and a more steadfast defence of the Bolivarian process within Venezuela.