The General Secretary of the PSUV and Minister of Interior and Justice, Diosdado Cabello, during his weekly press conference on Monday. Photo: PSUV.
Guacamaya, March 10, 2025. During his weekly press conference this Monday, the General Secretary of the United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV) and Minister of Interior, Diosdado Cabello, announced the creation of the “July 28 Movement for Constitutional Reform.”
In his speech, he also addressed the repatriation of Venezuelans from the U.S., criticized the opposition, and defended the application of the Simón Bolívar Law against those who promote international sanctions.
The July 28 Movement will focus on promoting a reform of the Venezuelan Constitution. The initiative, he explained, pays tribute to former President Hugo Chávez, “the creator of this Constitution,” who was born on July 28, 1954.
“We are going to create a broad, consensus-building movement so that this reform is approved by the vast majority of Venezuelans,” declared Cabello, who assured that the project will seek to “bolster” the political process of the ruling party.
Repatriation and Relations with the U.S.
Regarding the repatriation of Venezuelans from the United States, the minister stated, “We will continue with the Plan Vuelta a la Patria (Return to the Homeland Plan).” Cabello added that “it is not a temporary measure because the U.S. said they would send back those living there. The Plan Vuelta a la Patria has been in place since 2018, and over 920,000 Venezuelans have returned.”
During the same press conference, he defended the repatriation flights for fellow citizens, assuring that those who returned were received “as human beings” and underwent medical and legal checks. He also stated that another flight from Bolivia with returning Venezuelans would arrive soon.
“None of them have links to the Tren de Aragua. Someone is lying to Mr. Trump,” he said, referring to Washington’s accusations about alleged ties between migrants and criminal groups. He also criticized opposition sectors for “profiting from migration” and labeled figures like Leopoldo López, Juan Guaidó, and Antonio Ledezma as “traitors.”
Regarding Chevron, Cabello denied that the Venezuelan government had requested the oil company’s return to the country, asserting that it was the company that “asked to return.”
Criticism of the Opposition and the Simón Bolívar Law
“The Venezuelan right celebrates the fact that Venezuelans will suffer. They cannot call themselves sons of Venezuela,” the leader said, referring to opposition leaders who supported the Trump administration’s decision to revoke Chevron’s license to operate in the country.
Cabello lashed out at the opposition, calling it a “disaster” and lacking leadership. “There are no leaders there, they are paper leaders. Everyone gives orders, and no one obeys,” he said. He also referred to the Simón Bolívar Law, approved in 2024, to sanction those who promote foreign interventions, assuring that it will be applied with “full rigor.”
“In the United States, those who call for such things face the maximum penalties of justice. Here, we will assume our responsibility,” he said, without specifying concrete cases.
Support for Actions in the Guayana Esequiba
Finally, Cabello reaffirmed the PSUV’s support for the government’s actions in the territorial dispute with Georgetown over the Guayana Esequiba. He recalled that the election of regional authorities in that area, claimed by Venezuela, is part of the mandate of the consultative referendum held in 2023.
The announcement of the constitutional reform movement and Cabello’s remarks come amid an electoral year marked by regional elections, debates over institutional reforms, and tensions with neighboring Guyana over the Esequibo territory.
