DIRECTO | NICOLÁS MADURO en conferencia de prensa | EL PAÍS

The National Bolivarian Armed Forces as a genuine expression of the trust the nation places in its best soldiers to guide its destiny and preserve its integrity. Also present are admirals and generals in this mobilization, in this march. The Sword of Peru, which was given to the Liberator Simón Bolívar in recognition of the decisive victories of Junín and Ayacucho that sealed the independence of Peru and the end of Spanish colonial rule in South America. Also, Minister Padrino López added that the sword, born as a recognition for Ayacucho, today calls us to firmly defend national unity and the dignity of the great homeland. Let's go then with its design that honors the indigenous lineage of Atahualpa. The sword is the highest representation of victory and commitment to freedom. Today more than ever, this commitment to continue consolidating, building the homeland, the great homeland, the Latin American Union of the Caribbean peoples, of the peoples of Latin America and of the peoples of the world, is the legacy of the supreme and eternal commander Hugo Chávez, a great visionary of what it meant for countries to unite into a more human, more just, more solidary homeland. And that has been the project of the Bolivarian Revolution for the last 26 years. First with the supreme and eternal commander Hugo Chávez, leader of the Bolivarian Revolution, and currently with the commander-in-chief, president of the Republic, Nicolás Maduro Moros, also contemplated in the plan of the seven transformations. The Venezuelan people have also joined from every corner of the country in this construction of 21st-century socialism, in the construction of the Bolivarian Revolution. We also want to share the impressions of those who are accompanying this great mobilization. Peace will continue to be our victory, achieved by our own efforts, as the constitutional president Nicolás Maduro said. We are going to talk with the revolutionary woman, the woman who is always on the front lines of battle in defense of her country, Venezuela. We would like to know her name, her last name, and why she has decided to accompany this great mobilization today.

My name is Lisa Noja, I am from the Tomás Lander municipality. We are here in support of peace, in support of our constitutional president. Peace is... this type of mobilization is a demonstration that we, the Venezuelan people, want peace, and that is why we are here showing our face for our president, showing our face for our country, because we are revolutionaries and we believe in this revolution. We are here to support it because we know it is the best, and because peace is what we want in this country, as we are a people of peace.

What do you say to President Nicolás Maduro at this historic moment for our country, when the worst threat in the last 100 years is recorded? A military escalation in the Caribbean without precedent by the United States.

He has a people that is brave, empowered, with fierce women. He has them, he has each one of us to stand up for our country. Long live Venezuela and long live our free homeland.

Your name and last name.

Esli Noja from the Tomás Lander municipality.

Esli, for you, what does Venezuela mean? How can you describe what this land of grace means?

The most beautiful thing there is. There is no country like it, there is no comparison with our country. Our country is the most beautiful, a sovereign people full of much beauty in all aspects.

When we see President Nicolás Maduro in the streets walking with the people, what do you have to say from the heart?

That he is a revolutionary president, that he is a president of the people, a socialist president, who is present for his country, who is there for them.

Thank you very much. We continue sharing the impressions of those who are present here. We are live on Venezolana de Televisión at 5 in the afternoon. Good afternoon, Alejandro López, historian. We see the constitutional president Nicolás Maduro in the streets marching with the people on this emblematic date. As a historian, we would like to know the significance of this date, of this Sword of Peru given to the father of the homeland, Simón Bolívar, and its importance at these moments of aggression against Venezuela.