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A spectacular and millionaire advertising campaign has been launched to raise the tarnished image of Nicolás Maduro, who so far -with or without his [self-marketed Capitan America-style] superhero costume- has failed miserably in the mission to guarantee decent living conditions to Venezuelans.

In this latest episode, "Superbigote" [Super-Moustache] tries to recover the Essequibo territory from the clutches of transnational companies that have discovered rich oil and gas deposits.

The curious thing about this clash is that, on this side of the river, there are also companies such as Chevron operating with guarantees similar to those offered in the times of the dictatorship of Juan Vicente Gómez.

All eyes are on the consultative referendum of December 3. Chauvinism is the order of the day. Most of the factions of the right wing and the reactionary forces that dispute the control of the State with the government-PSUV have joined the call for the "defense" of the territory. There has been no lack of threats of "betrayal of the homeland" against those who do not jump on the bandwagon.

But, what is the supposed patriotism of the bourgeoisie all about? Why are apparent enemies shaking hands and shouting "the Essequibo is ours" in chorus? To answer these questions, it is necessary to make our way through the noise of the ultra-patriotic festivities and pay attention to the steps of the dance between the government and the forces of the opposition right wing. Then, we will see the seams of the so often touted "national unity".

A few days before the consultation on the Essequibo territory, President Nicolás Maduro has gathered the National Council of Productive Economy "in National Unity", to announce that the state of Nueva Esparta [north east Venezuelan island] will become a Special Economic Zone. Center-right Accion Democratica jumped up and down with joy at the news. Lawmaker Luis Eduardo Martinez admitted that his party pressured so that this decree would not be delayed any longer, which will open the way to a "tax, tariff and labor regime" that will provide "facilities" for foreign private investment. Bravo, Superbigote!

This was not the only good news brought by the head of state during the meeting: it turns out that Venezuela is also growing. The country will end November 2023 with nine quarters of "harmonious" growth.

This figure contrasts with the six consecutive quarters that the Venezuelan working class has not received a salary increase.

We now understand why business leaders smile and rub their hands when the president predicts "a good end of the year". However, the capitalists want more and, with diligence, the president of the National Council of Commerce and Services (Consecomercio), Gustavo Valecillos, appeared before television cameras presenting "proposals for the country". It is a seven-point plan (we will only mention two of them): "market economy" and "adaptation of the labor law". The first one is clearly explained by the merchants' dome: "all goods and services must be traded at their real and true price, defined by supply and demand".

On the second point there is misleading rhetoric. Valecillos tries to show his distress over the precarious situation of the workers in the face of the destruction of wages, but not even by chance does he propose measures to recuperate their purchasing power. He does not speak of wage indexation, nor of a basic basket of goods, but of "productivity" and, for this, the law must be modified

These coincidences are nothing new. For a long time now, the government and the business leaders have been dancing to the same tune while [as the referendum slogan says,] the Venezuelan sun rises in the Essequibo.