IT’S BEEN a whirlwind of a week in Caracas, Venezuela, and a gut-punch to empire and imperialism. As part of a British delegation to Venezuela, I was privileged to witness first hand the strength and tenacity of the Bolivarian revolution. Every day has been another nail hammered into the coffin of the Western disinformation campaign on Venezuela. 

The World Anti-fascist Festival kicked off on January 8 just days before the swearing-in and inauguration of Nicolas Maduro. Over 2,000 international delegates came to Venezuela from an astonishing 125 countries. Far-right opposition forces had been threatening up to 300 protests across the country, claiming that defeated candidate Edmundo Gonzalez should be installed as the president. The former election candidate fled the country months earlier. 

In solidarity against this threat, hundreds of revolutionary young people set up the “Big Encampment for Peace” in the heart of Caracas at the Parque Ali Primera. Hundreds of young people set up tents and camped out for days as guardians for peace in their homeland. Many teenagers from across the country came too with their organisations or parties. International delegates were invited to attend the opening (and later, closing) ceremony of the encampment. 

During the ceremony, the campers did not miss a beat of popular Chavista songs “Chavez, Corazon del Pueblo” and “Mi Gallo Nico,” and were joined in chorus by enthused neighbouring Latin American comrades. Delegates from each country contributed wood to a bonfire that symbolised the coming together of the global anti-fascist movement in defence of the Bolivarian revolution. 

Slogans of “Viva Palestina” and “Juventudes con Maduro” were written on makeshift cardboard banners and chalked in colourful writing on the ground. In the background, the National Bolivarian Armed Forces of Venezuela (FANB) camped out in support of the movement and on standby in case of any attacks on the encampment. What a grand contrast to the encampments in support of Palestine in the US and Britain that have been destroyed and suppressed.

As for the day of the inauguration, international delegates and Venezuelans alike crowded round televisions in hotel lobbies to watch the all-important swearing in ceremony. Maduro made a proclamation as part of the oath: “This new presidential term will be a time of peace, prosperity, equality and a new democracy. I swear on our history and on my life, we shall achieve it!” By this point in Hotel Pestana in Chacao, cheers erupted and tears streamed down the faces of emotional Venezuelans. 

International delegates were brought to the venue on buses that ended up getting caught up in the middle of the thousands-strong Chavista motorcade where jubilant Venezuelans shouted their greetings and revved their bikes in celebration. 

Much like the encampment, the inaugural celebrations later on in the day included plenty of Chavista song and dance on the streets leading up to the presidential palace Miraflores. The palace itself had been opened to the public for the day, offering air-conditioning and respite from the blistering heat. 

When asked why he was attending, Indonesian delegate Jiorjio stated: “The movement against fascism must be global.”

Against a backdrop of bright red PSUV flags, country flags from around the world and banners of indigenous communities, including the Wiphala, Venezuelan youth Segundo said: “This is a very important day for the Venezuelan people. It is the defeat of fascism and imperialism against our people and our president. We are so happy that international friends can join us for such a joyous day.” 

Despite the threats of opposition protest, if any happened, they were inconsequential. They were but a water drop in comparison to the ocean of Maduro supporters including thousands of international delegates. When President Maduro appeared on stage, the atmosphere was electric — especially so as he was accompanied by president of the Republic of Nicaragua. Maduro’s tongue-in-cheek mentions of the opposition and Edmundo Gonzalez were met with vivacious crowd chants of “Edmundo is scared!” and “Edmundo, where are you?” in Spanish.

On the day of the inauguration, Britain sanctioned 15 individuals “associated with the Maduro regime” who were regarded as “responsible for undermining democracy, the rule of law, and human rights violations.” This was described by the Foreign Office “as a decisive message of solidarity with the Venezuelan people” which begs the question of which Venezuelan people the British government means considering the mass support for democratically elected President Maduro. 

In response to the U bounty on President Maduro and Britain’s 15 sanctions announced on the day of the inauguration, Abena, delegate from Britain, remarked: “I’ve just learned that 70 per cent of the people who voted for Maduro were the young people of Venezuela so who the UK’s sanctions are affecting really are the youth of Venezuela — the future of Venezuela.”

These desperate moves on the day of the inauguration are indicative of the failed strategy of the US, Britain and others to turn the masses against Venezuela.  

A day after the inauguration came the closing ceremony of the World Anti-fascist Festival where delegates pledged their commitment to the resolutions made at the inaugural World Anti-fascist Congresses also held in Venezuela in 2024. The resolutions included a commitment to forming new think tanks in the different regions; an anti-fascist youth training camp; the launch of the anti-fascist feminist internationale on March 8 2025; and world anti-fascist meetings dedicated to religious sectors, indigenous peoples and legal experts respectively. 

When asked for her thoughts, Bolivian activist Natalia, seen proudly waving the Wiphala flag, said to me: “The World Anti-fascist Festival was a space for meeting, to reaffirm our commitment to the anti-fascist fight, to agree on lines of action between organisations and collectives from around the world and to reaffirm Venezuela and the presidency of Nicolas Maduro as an anti-fascist and anti-imperialist vanguard. It was an event in which we are proud to have participated.”

President Maduro appeared at the very end to give a rousing speech and endorse the resolutions. He decorated these individuals alongside other key players with presidential medals in honour of their service to the country and to the Bolivarian revolution. Such a defiant move felt like a bold statement to the US empire and its lackeys: we, Venezuelans, stand united, undivided and undeterred from pursuing the Bolivarian revolution.

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