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Moroccan regime supports the coup in Venezuela we say let the people decide thei

Marxist Theory · 2026-05-13

Here is the structured analytical summary of the article, as requested.

Core Argument

The central thesis is that the Moroccan monarchy’s recognition of Juan Guaidó as interim president of Venezuela is not a principled stand for democracy, but a cynical act of subservience to US imperialism. The article argues that a regime which is itself an unelected, repressive dictatorship has no legitimate basis to intervene against a democratically elected government. The real motive is not concern for Venezuelan democracy, but a desperate attempt by the Moroccan monarchy to curry favour with the Trump administration, following its failed bet on Hillary Clinton, and to punish Venezuela for its principled position on the Western Sahara conflict. The article frames the move as a "treacherous stab in the back" of the Venezuelan people, exposing the reactionary nature of the Moroccan state and its alignment with imperialist interests against the interests of the working class, both in Morocco and globally.

Theoretical Grounding

The analysis is grounded in a classical Marxist-Leninist framework of imperialism and the state. It draws on the Leninist conception of imperialism as the highest stage of capitalism, where the major capitalist powers (led by the US) intervene militarily and politically to secure markets, resources, and pliable client states. The article applies this by identifying the US-backed coup attempt in Venezuela as a direct act of imperialist aggression.

Furthermore, the analysis employs the Marxist theory of the state, viewing the Moroccan monarchy not as a neutral arbiter but as a "dictatorial regime" representing the "parasitic ruling class and its state." Its foreign policy is therefore understood not as an expression of national interest, but as a reflection of the class interests of the oligarchy, which seeks to integrate itself into the global imperialist chain. The article’s rejection of "reformism" is implicit in its refusal to see any of the contending bourgeois factions in Venezuela (Maduro’s or Guaidó’s) as a vehicle for genuine working-class emancipation. The call for "self-determination" is a classic Marxist position against imperialist intervention, rooted in the right of nations to decide their own destiny free from foreign domination.

Conjunctural Relevance

The article is a direct response to a specific conjuncture in early 2019: the peak of the US-led campaign to oust Nicolás Maduro, which involved recognising Guaidó as the legitimate president. The article connects this global event to the specific dynamics of the North African and Middle Eastern region.

  • Geopolitical Alignment: It highlights Morocco’s role as a junior partner in the US imperialist project, placing it alongside Israel as one of the first states in the region to back the coup. This situates Morocco within a broader axis of reactionary, pro-US regimes.
  • Regional Hypocrisy: The article contrasts Venezuela’s social achievements (95% literacy, free university education) with Morocco’s own poor record on education and infant mortality, exposing the hypocrisy of a regime that lectures others on democracy while suppressing its own people.
  • The Western Sahara Dimension: The article identifies Venezuela’s support for a UN-supervised referendum in Western Sahara as a key motivation for Morocco’s hostility. This links the Venezuelan crisis directly to a core issue of Moroccan foreign policy and the unfinished decolonisation of the African continent.
  • Imperialist Subservience: The article explicitly names the meeting between Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita and Elliott Abrams, the US official overseeing the "restoration of democracy" in Venezuela, as the moment the deal was sealed. This provides a concrete, named link between the Moroccan regime and the architects of the coup.

Where the Argument Continues

This article is a snapshot of a specific moment in the struggle against imperialism. The argument it makes continues in several directions:

  • The Venezuelan Revolution: The broader Marxist analysis of the Venezuelan process—its contradictions, the role of the bureaucracy, and the need for a genuine workers' state—is developed in numerous other IDOM articles. The reader should look for analyses of the Maduro government's policies, the nature of the Bolivarian Revolution, and the strategy for the working class in Venezuela.
  • The Moroccan Left: The article is published by the Communist League of Action in Morocco. The argument about the reactionary nature of the monarchy and the need for a socialist revolution in Morocco is developed in other IDOM articles and publications from the Moroccan section of the RCI.
  • Imperialism in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA): The article’s brief mention of Morocco’s participation in the Saudi-led war in Yemen connects to a wider body of Marxist analysis on the proxy wars and imperialist interventions shaping the MENA region. This includes the role of Saudi Arabia, the Gulf states, and Israel as regional enforcers for US imperialism.

Connections

This article should be read alongside:

  • Other IDOM articles on Venezuela from 2019: These provide the broader strategic context of the coup attempt, the role of the US, and the tasks of the international working class in defending the Venezuelan revolution from imperialism.
  • IDOM articles on the Arab Spring and its aftermath: These analyses of counter-revolution in Egypt, Syria, and elsewhere provide the theoretical framework for understanding how reactionary monarchies like Morocco survive and adapt to popular uprisings.
  • Lenin’s "Imperialism, the Highest Stage of Capitalism": This is the foundational text for the theoretical framework used in the article, explaining the economic drivers of imperialist intervention.
  • Trotsky’s "The Permanent Revolution": This text is relevant for understanding the strategy of the working class in countries like Venezuela and Morocco, where the tasks of the democratic and anti-imperialist revolution are intertwined with the struggle for socialism.

Key Quotes

  1. "This move represents a blatant criminal interference in the affairs of a sovereign country and shameless complicity with American imperialism, which has been working for many years to topple the regime in Venezuela and install a government favourable to its interests."

  2. "It is ironic that Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita, who offers the certificate of legitimacy to Guaido, has never won a single vote in an election. He has been appointed by the king, who also has never been elected by anyone, and represents a system that has never witnessed any fair, democratic elections in its history."

  3. "Thus, the same Moroccan dictatorial regime, which has never hesitated to kill unarmed demonstrators, or arrest and imprison them for years, simply for demanding bread, freedom and social justice, has now become concerned with 'the aspirations of the Venezuelan people for democracy and change'!"

  4. "The only real reason behind this support for a coup against a legitimate government is a desperate attempt by this regime to win favour from the Trump's administration, whose ire it provoked by supporting Hillary Clinton during the election campaign, sending millions of dollars of money from the impoverished Moroccan people to help with her presidential bid."

  5. "We strongly condemn this move by the Moroccan regime, which does not represent the Moroccan people and does not serve the interests of the Moroccan people. It is an expression of the interests of the parasitic ruling class and its state."