Caracas.- Hugo Chávez, president of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, announced his proposed plan of government entitled “2013-2019 Government Plan for the Homeland,” after his official registration as presidential candidate with the National Electoral Council   (CNE). The Venezuelan leader urged the people to maintain the control over oil resources, which are “the people’s wealth.”

The printed version of the plan, which will be circulated for discussion, establishes the first of the historic goals, which is considered essential by the Head of State since it deals with defense and the total preservation of national independence.

“The defense, expansion and consolidation of national independence, the independence of the homeland, which is the most precious asset reached in early 21st century,” is the first strategic and historic goal of the Homeland Plan.

In that sense, President Chávez recalled the rescue of Petróleos de Venezuela, S.A. (PDVSA) in the period 2002-2003, when the People’s Power and the Revolutionary Government made “the conquest of PDVSA for the sake of the nation.”

The president recalled the times when the Fourth Republic only received 1% for State oil royalties. In contrast, with the establishment of the Bolivarian Revolution and the Full Oil Sovereignty policy,  oil royalties amount to 30%, and the revenues are for the benefit of the Venezuelan people.

“We increased royalties to 30% and they are currently at that level; there is no way back,” Chávez said. He recalled that PDVSA has full control over Venezuelan oil activity. The oil industry was previously controlled by foreign interests through transnational companies.

He also brought up the issue of the mismanagement of the revenue generated by the Fourth Republic’s oil industry when a huge amount of funds were aimed at international corporations that did not pay income tax (ISLR) whereas the state oil company did pay the tax.

“In the past, companies did not even pay income tax in the Orinoco Oil Belt (FPO); nowadays, companies operating in the Oil Belt have to pay 50% (of taxes). It means independence!”.

The Venezuelan president highlighted the importance of a victory in the Battle of Carabobo on October 7, which will provide continuity to oil independence and the control by the state oil company. This state-management has allowed the generation of enormous wealth for the Nation in less than 10 years, which in other case would have been granted to the local bourgeoisie and to foreign capitalism.

“Oil funds now represent economic independence. Since the rescue of the (oil) industry and the enactment of the Hydrocarbons Law, we have been able to collect $350 billion that would have left the country if we were not a sovereign country. On the contrary, the transnational companies would have taken the money,” he said.

The Venezuelan leader alerted about the need to control Venezuelan oil. Chávez said:  “They will not rule again Bolívar’s independent homeland! The control of the oil industry is an issue of paramount importance”.

In the light of the first goal, we must continue protecting Venezuelan hydrocarbons, because the control of this energy source is one of the main goals of the Venezuelan bourgeoisie and of the lackeys of the empire.

President Chávez said that as a result of the Bolivarian government’s oil policy, oil revenues have been allocated to social policies. The Venezuelan Head of State said that $500 billion have been invested in works and activities aimed at improving the quality of life of the Venezuelan people.

The president highlighted the work carried out by the president of Petróleos de Venezuela and People’s Minister of Petroleum and Mining, Rafael Ramírez, who is currently in Vienna, in a meeting of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC). He also greeted PDVSA workers and the Venezuelan working class.