Venezuela to hold fourth popular consultation amid Maduro’s defence of ‘direct democracy’: Video
Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has announced the country’s fourth popular consultation of the year, scheduled for 23 November, where citizens will vote to select community projects across more than 5,000 communal circuits, as reported by the state-run channel VTV.
Speaking at the inauguration of the Self-Government and Community Projects Presentation Hall in Caracas, Maduro positioned the initiative as proof of what he called Venezuela’s model of “direct democracy.” He criticised what he described as long-running international media campaigns aimed at discrediting both his government and that of the late Hugo Chávez, arguing that such narratives misrepresent Venezuela’s political reality.
The upcoming consultation forms part of a broader state plan that has already seen two nationwide votes this year, with six more expected in total. According to government figures, more than 36,000 local initiatives have been submitted so far, involving participation from over 47,000 community councils and 7,400 polling stations. The winning projects will receive public funding for their implementation.
Maduro also rejected accusations linking Venezuela to the criminal organisation Tren de Aragua, calling such claims “xenophobic” and “racist.” He insisted that Venezuela is not defined by crime but by the “dignity and hard work” of its people — a message that aligns with his ongoing effort to frame the country’s communal governance model as both participatory and patriotic.
This story is written and edited by the Global South World team, you can contact us here.
