Venezuelan grassroots activists say the upcoming National Constituent Assembly (ANC) could be a major step forward for the country’s commune movement and could deepen the Bolivarian revolution.

Called by President Nicolas Maduro, the ANC will have broad powers to rewrite Venezuela’s constitution following the election of delegates in July.

When Maduro called the assembly on May 1, he argued it could be an avenue for overcoming the country’s current political and economic crisis. The initiative has been welcomed by much of Venezuela’s left, with activists from progressive social movements viewing the assembly as a way to deepen the country’s Bolivarian revolution.

Jesus Silva is one such activist. This week, he registered as a pre-candidate for the ANC elections. Speaking to venezuelanalysis.com, he said he hopes to represent his movement, the Alexis Vive Patriotic Force, at the ANC later this year.

“Enough of impositions, of finger pointing, of the habits of the old political culture of imposition; enough of corruption, of bureaucrats, we believe that we [the grassroots] need to lead the revolution,” he told VA.

Despite the right-wing criticism of the ANC, he argued the assembly could be used by grassroots movements to make their voices heard and reinvigorate the revolution.

“From below, we have to put our voices, we have to turn up the volume of the things that we say among the grassroots, the demands, the complaints, the hope, the positivity with which we have taken to the streets,” he said.

To see the full interview, check out the video below.

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