MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Bolivarian governments preach Socialism but have serious democratic deficiencies

MEP Norbert Neuser, belonging to Germany’s Social Democrats

Bolivarian governments preach Socialism and work for the dispossessed but also have serious shortcomings since they ignore basic democratic standards in freedom of the press, human rights, and citizenry participation according to Norbert Neuser, member of the European Parliament.

“(Venezuela’s Hugo) Chavez as his Socialist colleagues implement policies to help the poorest and the most dispossessed, but obviously have deficiencies regarding freedoms and human rights policies”, said MEP Neuser who belongs to the Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament.

Neuser statements were done in Asunción, Paraguay participating of a regional seminar for Latin America on governance, democracy and improve structuring of development aid sponsored by the European Union.

The German MEP went further and said that “Chavez and his colleagues must accept democratic rules; that are important for governance as well as for the leaders of those countries, and obviously for an improved structuring of development aid”.

When asked by a member of the audience if the government of Chavez could be defined as “democratic” given his successive electoral successes Neuser offered a tactful reply.

“The Venezuelan leader can’t be compared for example with the democratic leaders of Europe, even if we tried to. In Venezuela a greater participation is needed; freedom of the press, of expression, of reunion must be guaranteed and there must be respect for private property”.

Neuser underlined that developing countries to have access to cooperation funds from the EU must effectively comply with EU democratic principles and a greater participation of the civil society in development related issues.

“One of those conditions is to have ample participation of the civil society which helps ensure democratization and democratic values and involves them in development aid activities”, said Neuser.

But experience shows that these civil society organizations and movements are not adequately recognized by governments that call themselves Socialist or inspired in the Bolivarian revolution.

“Countries must work to improve this area because these civil society organizations ensure democratic practice and principles, in a ‘down-upwards’ grassroots work which is the essence of an open system of effective freedoms. These are the foundations for an efficient structuring of development aid .