Venezuela's Maduro appeals to Hugo Chávez's legacy amid final push to win voters before election

Titled the "Plan of the Future", Maduro's vision builds on the five major objectives of the Plan de la Patria formulated by former President Hugo Chávez back in 2003, as reported by the Ministry of Popular Power for Planning.

The references to Chávez were present throughout his intervention which took place in Miraflores, the president's official residency. The speech started out emphasizing the historical significance of Simón Bolívar before shifting to recalling the legacy of Hugo Chávez, recalling the challenges Venezuela faced before 1999.

At one point, Maduro walked to a table when Hugo Chávez made his last intervention on December 8, 2012. "He sat here", Maduro said pointing to a chair. "Diosdado (Cabello) was beside him and I was on the other side. And he said: 'if for any reason I'm not able to continue, then it will be your turn Nicolás."

He then added: "he told the people: let's go into the future."

The so-called "Plan of the Future" has three immediate objectives, according to the president. The first one is to strengthen the peace, stability and tranquility of Venezuela. The second one is to provide protection to the Venezuelan people and the third one is to achieve prosperity.

"We've learned to do a lot with nothing and the worst is behind us," he stated. "Now the best is about to arrive, the prophecy will be accomplished and no one will come between our path of becoming an emerging South American power."

The seven transformations are the backbone of the plan and are divided as follows:

1. The economic plan includes a stabilization and growth initiative, focusing on diversifying wealth, controlling inflation, and increasing non-oil exports.
2. In science and education, Maduro pledged to restore educational and public health structures, introduce virtual classrooms for AI education, and expand cultural missions to strengthen national identity.
3. For security, he promised to establish peace zones, dismantle criminal gangs, reform the penitentiary system, and address judicial issues, including the recovery of the disputed Guayana Esequiba region.
4. The social equilibrium strategy involves enhancing public welfare missions, aiming for zero poverty, constructing over three million new homes, and improving employment through housing projects. Infrastructure improvements and a new Metro Bus system are also planned.
5. The fifth one is political as Maduro proposes quarterly consultations to increase community participation, reduce bureaucracy, and prevent corruption.
6. The sixth one is around climate change, highlighting the need to mitigate its impacts through scientific and technological advancements and promoting sustainable resource use.
7. The seventh and final transformation is geopolitical, as Maduro expressed intentions to engage with new global markets, secure opportunities for national producers, and support the return of emigrants affected by economic sanctions.

On Thursday, The Associated Press reported that Maduro seems to be struggling to maintain the support of the armed forces, a traditional arbiter of political disputes in the country and an integral part of Maduro's grip on power ever since his mentor and predecessor.

The report cites the crashing economy as one of the reasons behind discontent in the military as the Venezuelan economy has shrunk 71% between 2012 and 2020 while inflation remains at a whopping 130,000%

Members of the armed forces make up about half of the 301 Maduro opponents currently imprisoned and classified as political prisoners by Caracas-based legal assistance cooperative Foro Penal.