Luis Herrera Campíns: discurso de toma de posesión | Venezuela, 1979

“I inherit a mortgaged Venezuela.” That’s what Luis Herrera Campíns said upon assuming the Presidency of Venezuela in 1979. In this historical document, you can watch Luis Herrera Campíns’s inauguration and listen to his complete presidential address: his diagnosis of the Venezuelan economy, his call for austerity, his proposals regarding corruption, oil, education, democracy, the rule of law, and foreign policy. More than four decades later, his words allow us to return directly to the source and analyze what kind of country he inherited, what problems he identified, and what he promised to do as president. 00:00 - Carlos Andrés Pérez and Luis Herrera Campíns in Congress 01:00 - Swearing-in as President of Venezuela 03:26 - Beginning of the presidential address 06:02 - The call to transform Venezuela 07:12 - Democracy, dialogue, and the rule of law 09:24 - Austerity and discipline in public spending 11:07 - The diagnosis of the Venezuelan economy 12:03 - “I inherit a mortgaged Venezuela” 12:43 - The response to the economic crisis 13:19 - Austerity, inflation, and public spending 14:11 - Production, prices, and economic controls 14:59 - The role of the State in the economy 16:01 - Agriculture and economic development 16:51 - Industry and economic integration 17:55 - Oil, OPEC, and scientific development 19:15 - Education as the top priority 20:30 - Nationalization and oil policy 21:50 - The The Orinoco Oil Belt Challenge 22:33 - University and the Student Quota Problem 23:30 - Culture, Education, and Freedom of Expression 25:29 - Childhood, Family, and Public Health 26:28 - Labor, Corruption, and Moral Crisis 27:06 - Commitment to Combating Administrative Corruption 28:58 - Participatory Democracy and Popular Will 30:49 - Youth, Education, and Drugs 32:02 - Military Service and the Armed Forces 33:03 - The Armed Forces and Democratic Institutions 34:39 - “My Party Will Not Be Above the Country” 35:01 - Executive Branch and the Rule of Law 35:37 - Security and the Fight Against Crime 36:54 - Poverty, Marginalization, and Social Justice 37:33 - Labor, Sobriety, and National Identity 39:28 - Religion and Freedom of Worship 40:02 - Foreign Policy and National Sovereignty 41:47 - Latin America and Regional Integration 43:36 - Venezuela's Relations with the United States 44:06 - Relations with Socialist Countries, Africa, and Asia 45:21 - Foreign Policy as National Consensus 45:39 - Dialogue, Inclusivity, and Political Coexistence 47:14 - "The people are tired of promises" 47:37 - "We will do what we can" 48:38 - Luis Herrera Campíns's Final Message 50:44 - "Help me reach where I cannot" Which part of this 1979 speech do you consider most significant when listening to it today? Leave your analysis in the comments and share this document to contribute to preserving and discussing Venezuela's historical memory. #LuisHerreraCampíns #HistoryOfVenezuela #PoliticalHistory #Venezuela #HistoricalMemory