October 17, 2005
Fedeindustria: Private property is safe

(El Universal) - "Following the 34th annual meeting of Fedeindustrias (Federation of Industries), its President Miguel Pérez Abad said we need to 'Demythologize socialism'. (...) Let's see his opinion on this matter:

Being in contact with government spokespeople, can you explain what XXI century socialism is and what the role of the private sector is in all this?

'This issue, as many others emerged to the public arena as a proposal of this government, has caused the most diverse reactions. A group of spokespeople from the business sector has reacted from a conservative perspective saying it's unviable or in the worst case, an anachronism. We prefer to debate, to have an open discussion and embrace President Chávez's offer to build a socio-productive model that will benefit all Venezuelans. We would rather do and propose, than have a non-productive position of reacting and criticising. The new socialism, also known as XXI century socialism, is still to be built in Venezuela'.

Does this mean a cession of rights and properties from business people, as seen on several cases of intervened ranches?

'From our perspective, it doesn't. Private property is recognised in the Venezuelan Constitution and ratified by the public sector and the Declaration of Human Rights. It is a fundamental part of the new economic and social model being built. The idea is to open spaces to less orthodox forms of property, which are complementary, and in no way attempt against the legitimate right of Venezuelans to own properties as a product of their productive and creative work'.

'The idea is to give more options to those who have been excluded for so long from economic development policies. If the socio-productive model promotes a better and more efficient way of generating and distributing national wealth to benefit the people, we will be guaranteeing Venezuelan's individual rights, including private property'.

Socialism is the previous step to communism. Popular belief or unarguable reality?

'An unarguable reality is the fact that there are many forms of socialism coexisting today worldwide, which have been tailored to suit specific conditions of different societies. The governing elites of most developed countries have felt the social role of companies (private, public, co-managed) and have applied plans and programmes (health, education, pension) which cover most of their citizens, supported mainly by taxation and social responsibility of the businesses (...)'.

When you hear about collective property, what comes to your mind?

'Opportunities for those who never had anything and probably will never have if they don't gather around a common goal, which may be called co-operative business' (...)".