Life works in mysterious ways sometimes. Yesterday I commented on a post about the so-called ‘‘political prisoners’’ mindfap from Venezuela (found here: https://lemmygrad.ml/comment/7560638) and today I wake up to the news that the Bolivarian government decided to unilaterally free a number of them. This can be understood in various ways: as an attempt to extend laurels for peace, an ‘‘exchange’’ for Maduro and Cilia, a ‘‘capitulation’’, a sign of defeat, proof of goodwill for negotiations, or even a sign of strength. This last one may confuse some, but in Venezuela there’s a saying:‘‘El que se mete con Venezuela, se seca’’ (‘‘Those that mess with Venezuela dry up’’). It’s an expression of moral consistency, of letting bygones be bygones and believing that life will eventually teach those that fuck with us a lesson without our interference. Vindictive hope and revolutionary certainty.

This is why María Corina Machado and Juan Guaidó got to strut about with nobody prosecuting them. Many of those now freed were part of their machine. Will they turn around and be grateful? Of course not. It not only feeds their arrogance, but their impunity. We know from which threads they’re cut. Among them are Juan Carlos Guanipa, aka ‘‘Tequeño Crúo’’ (Raw Tequeño), another longtime politician and ally of Guaidó and MCM. Dude was taken into custody about a year ago, because they found in his cellphone contacts with the CIA, and others in MCM’s circle discussing destabilizing plans. He’s been around every guarimba and coup attempt. Another one I heard about was Edmundo González’ son-in-law, Rafael Tudares. He, too, was not in prison for that long. He was charged with forging, terrorism, conspiracy, and so on. I haven’t heard the names of others, but we can assume they’re all part of this milieu.

According to the government, the things that are being done right now were already planned for by Maduro, in case of his death, unjust imprisonment, or other contingencies. I don’t know if this action itself was part of his plans, but I do know that the country’s stability during this forced absence is. He had planned for the government to carry on as usual with all the projects that were already underway. This is part of the formation that Chávez gave Maduro, and it’s one of our greatest strengths. Reaction always operates through personalization, saying the fault of everything is this or that person, but Chavismo isn’t Chávez or Maduro, it’s the Venezuelan people. This is something all our movements must learn.