To ensure the support of the FAN for a democratic transition in Venezuela, it is essential to implement a strategy that guarantees legal protections for military personnel not involved in serious crimes, aiming to foster trust and institutional cohesion.
This is highlighted in a report received by Venezuela Política, which recommends a series of measures to be taken by the legitimate Venezuelan authorities to secure the support of the military sector in this new phase of transition.
Additionally, it suggests the immediate reintegration of persecuted uniformed personnel, political prisoners, and defectors due to ideological reasons to strengthen professional ranks with democratic values. The strategy also includes the mandatory retirement of the current military leadership that has already completed its service time, allowing for a renewal of command and opening positions for new leadership.
The report emphasizes that these measures aim to prevent uprisings and ensure national stability through a disciplined military structure that adheres to the Constitution.
Strategy for FAN Support in the Democratic Transition
The report in possession of Venezuela Política presents a strategic proposal directed at the authentic and lawful leadership and Venezuelan authorities, detailing a plan to obtain institutional support for the Bolivarian National Armed Force (FANB) in the democratic transition process.
The strategy is built on three fundamental pillars:
- Providing political guarantees to military personnel not implicated in serious crimes;
- The immediate reintegration of military members affected for political reasons; and
- The execution of mandatory retirement for personnel who have completed their legal service time.
The overarching goal is to create a climate of trust, strengthen institutional cohesion with personnel of democratic orientation, renew high command, and ensure the stability of the country, while isolating elements involved in illicit activities.
The proposal focuses on enhancing institutional integrity, promoting national reconciliation, and ensuring the stability of the country. To facilitate this support, it is deemed essential to structure measures that offer legal security, administrative order, and a professional reorganization of the armed forces grounded in merit, legality, and respect for fundamental rights.
Strategic Recommendations
The report proposes actions centered around three main initiatives, each with specific objectives to reconfigure the structure and loyalty of the military institution.
Political Guarantees for Personnel Not Involved in Serious Crimes
Establish clear political guarantees for members of the FANB not linked to serious crimes, specifically defined as drug trafficking or human rights violations.
This aims primarily to foster a climate of trust and stability. This measure seeks to facilitate the active and positive institutional participation of the FANB in the political change process, dispelling fears and promoting cooperation.
Reintegration of Military Personnel Affected by Political Reasons
Immediate, voluntary reintegration without complex procedures for military personnel removed from the institution for political reasons, including:
- Military considered political prisoners.
- Personnel who defected for political reasons.
- Members of the active reserve whose promotions are still in active service.
Conditions must be met for such reintegration:
- Respect for military ranks according to their seniority.
- Organic integration within their respective promotions.
- Assignment to their last unit of service.
This action is well justified and presents a series of strategic benefits:
- Low financial impact: military salaries represent a “relatively low” budgetary burden, making this measure cost-effective and not significantly impacting the State’s finances.
- Talent recovery: this will allow the recovery of trained human resources with minimal administrative costs.
- Institutional strengthening: incorporating a “large number of democratic personnel” aims to strengthen internal stability and serve as a deterrent against potential military uprisings against the new government. The presence of many generals among political prisoners and defectors would provide leadership to the institution.
- Historical precedent: there is a precedent of the reintegration of the “February 4 coup plotters” during Hugo Chávez’s era.
- Operational capacity: integrating this personnel would increase operational capacity in areas requiring more state control and strengthen protective operations against threats like irregular armed groups.
Mandatory Retirement for Personnel Who Have Served Their Time
The report also recommends immediately executing the retirement or transition to active reserve of all military personnel who have fulfilled the legally established service time.
The key objectives of this retirement process are:
- Renewal of high command: designed to remove “from command many members of the leadership who should already be retired.”
- Generation of opportunities: the retirement of these officers will create vacant positions, allowing for the entry and advancement of “new professional and democratic candidates.”
Expected Outcomes
The measures proposed in the report aim to create a favorable and clear environment that allows for the necessary command and control for the FANB to support the transition institutionally. The combination of these actions is designed to produce the following strategic outcomes:
- Isolation of criminal elements: the strategy isolates military personnel involved in illegal acts while protecting and benefiting the rest of the active personnel.
- Restoration and justice: this directly favors military personnel who “suffered the political consequences of the regime.”
- Renewal and professionalization: facilitates progressive change in the high command and promotes new internal competition for promotions and key positions based on merit.
- Stability and control: the reintegrated personnel, committed to democratic values, will monitor the institution from within and prevent potential military uprisings.
- Consolidation of a new FANB: the ultimate goal is to consolidate a cohesive, professional, disciplined Bolivarian National Armed Force aligned with the constitutional and democratic principles necessary for the country’s reconstruction.