Venezuela Socialists celebrate new Congress, pariah status looms

[webfact]

Venezuela Socialists celebrate new Congress, pariah status looms

By Brian Ellsworth

 

Demonstrators watch a barricade burn after clashes broke out while the Constituent Assembly election is being carried out in Caracas, Venezuela, July 30, 2017. REUTERS/Carlos Garcia Rawlins

 

CARACAS (Reuters) - Venezuela's ruling Socialist Party has vowed that a newly elected legislative super-body will begin passing laws quickly after a vote that was boycotted by the opposition and slammed by foreign governments as an affront to democracy.

 

At least 10 people were killed in protests on Sunday by opponents of unpopular leftist President Nicolas Maduro, who insists the new "constituent assembly" will bring peace after four months of protests that have killed more than 120 people.

 

The country's CNE elections authority said 8.1 million voters went to the polls on Sunday. The opposition estimated only 2.5 million ballots were cast.

 

Maduro's critics characterized the election as a naked power grab meant to keep him in office despite repudiation over an economic crisis that has spurred malnutrition and left citizens struggling to obtain basic products in the nation of about 30 million people.

 

The vote could exacerbate those economic woes if the United States - the top market for Venezuelan oil - follows through on threats of economic sanctions, and could sow doubts among investors about the legitimacy of financing deals backed by the new assembly.

 

"The constituent assembly will start its work right away," Diosdado Cabello, deputy head of the Socialist Party, told a post-election rally in Caracas that featured singers, dancers and culminated after midnight in the announcement of the official vote count and a fiery speech by Maduro.

 

"Good morning Venezuela. We have a constituent assembly!" he shouted. "I ask our countrymen to close ranks so that the assembly can be a place of dialogue."

 

On Sunday, the U.S. State Department vowed "strong swift actions against the architects of authoritarianism" that, according to U.S. officials, will involve sanctions on the oil sector.

 

Allies of the Socialist Party won all 545 seats in the new assembly, which will have the power to rewrite the constitution, dissolve state institutions such as the opposition-run Congress, and sack dissident officials.

 

"The constitutional assembly will not resolve any of the country's problems, it just means more crisis," opposition leader Henrique Capriles told a news conference, calling for a new round of protests at noon on Monday.

 

"As of tomorrow, a new stage of the struggle begins," Capriles said.

 

Latin American nations from Argentina to Mexico, which are historically wary of siding with Washington in hemispheric disputes, sharply condemned the vote.

 

Several refused to recognize the results, while Spain and Canada joined in the condemnation.

 

Socialist party official Cabello hinted that the constitutional assembly would hold sessions in the same legislative palace as the existing Congress, which the opposition took over in a landslide 2015 victory.

 

"They kick us out the door we come back through the window," he told a news conference. "We never surrender. We insist and insist until we win. Today we feel victorious."

 

The opposition organized an unofficial referendum over Maduro's plan in July, when more than 7 million voters overwhelmingly rejected his constituent assembly and voted in favor of early elections.

 

(Additional reporting by Fabian Cambero, Diego Ore and Hugh Bronstein; Editing by Paul Tait)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2017-07-31

[Kiwiken]

Sadly a very divided Nation now. I think the way forward will not be a peaceful one

[Baerboxer]

4 hours ago, Kiwiken said:

Sadly a very divided Nation now. I think the way forward will not be a peaceful one

 

Unfortunately when a corrupt regime gets elected they like being in power. Getting them out again is a tad more difficult when they change laws, procedures, even constitutions to suit themselves by fixing elections and referendums.

 

Sadly, I think you're right. Maduro isn't going to give up peacefully.

[maximillian]

9 hours ago, Baerboxer said:

 

Unfortunately when a corrupt regime gets elected they like being in power. Getting them out again is a tad more difficult when they change laws, procedures, even constitutions to suit themselves by fixing elections and referendums.

 

Sadly, I think you're right. Maduro isn't going to give up peacefully.

Just like Assad ?  Another regime change by the US empire is looming in Venezuela.

Why not let the Venezuelans handle their own problems.

Other countries keep out please.

More info on tripple w OpEdNews dot com

[Morch]

Closing them ranks....

 

Venezuela seizes opposition leaders Lopez, Ledezma from homes

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-venezuela-politics-oppostion-idUSKBN1AH382

 

 

 

[baboon]

5 hours ago, maximillian said:

Just like Assad ?  Another regime change by the US empire is looming in Venezuela.

Why not let the Venezuelans handle their own problems.

Other countries keep out please.

More info on tripple w OpEdNews dot com

Rubbish. Venezuela is a dangerous failed state and a global menace which must be stopped at all costs before... But maybe I am getting a little ahead of myself. Let's wait and see if the DPRK is dumped in the 'Too difficult' tray first...

Edited August 1, 2017 by baboon

[Kiwiken]

5 hours ago, baboon said:

Rubbish. Venezuela is a dangerous failed state and a global menace which must be stopped at all costs before... But maybe I am getting a little ahead of myself. Let's wait and see if the DPRK is dumped in the 'Too difficult' tray first...

I see a lot of conflict in Venezuela but it for the people themselves to sort out. Not for Western interference.

The West is too good at destabilising and leaving vacuums

[tomwct]

Maduro is now the Richest Man in Venezuela. He got his money from his job as a Bus Driver! This is a good example of why Socialism doesn't and will never work in any society. Cuba is another example!

Edited August 1, 2017 by tomwct

[Kiwiken]

6 minutes ago, tomwct said:

Maduro is now the Richest Man in Venezuela. He got his money from his job as a Bus Driver! This is a good example of why Socialism doesn't and will never work in any society. Cuba is another example!

Please define and describe what Socialism is. Please not just the American view

[halloween]

IIRC Venezuala is one of the few countries in the region that the US hasn't invaded yet. A bit far south perhaps.

[SheungWan]

2 hours ago, Kiwiken said:

Please define and describe what Socialism is. Please not just the American view

In the case of Venezuela it would be nothing on the shelves.

[ExpatOilWorker]

9 minutes ago, SheungWan said:

In the case of Venezuela it would be nothing on the shelves.

 

Add nationalizing 1,400 companies and not paying oil field service companies to that list.

[maximillian]

On 2.8.2017 at 0:55 AM, baboon said:

Rubbish. Venezuela is a dangerous failed state and a global menace which must be stopped at all costs before... But maybe I am getting a little ahead of myself. Let's wait and see if the DPRK is dumped in the 'Too difficult' tray first...

B.S.   In what way is Venezuela a global menace ?  Ah, they als have Weapons of Mass Destruction, barrel bombs with sarin gas or even Nukes ?  The US empire IS a global menace for sure no matter who is the president.

[baboon]

1 hour ago, maximillian said:

B.S.   In what way is Venezuela a global menace ?  Ah, they als have Weapons of Mass Destruction, barrel bombs with sarin gas or even Nukes ?  The US empire IS a global menace for sure no matter who is the president.

Of course they aren't. I was merely sarcastically making the point that The US and pals go from enemy to enemy to enemy and the sheeple buy it every time. Now they have another potential target to hand, that was all I meant.

[maximillian]

20 hours ago, baboon said:

Of course they aren't. I was merely sarcastically making the point that The US and pals go from enemy to enemy to enemy and the sheeple buy it every time. Now they have another potential target to hand, that was all I meant.

So sorry for not getting your point in the first place.

[baboon]

21 minutes ago, maximillian said:

So sorry for not getting your point in the first place.

No problem at all.

[ChidlomDweller]

On 8/1/2017 at 10:29 AM, Baerboxer said:

 

Unfortunately when a corrupt regime gets elected they like being in power. Getting them out again is a tad more difficult when they change laws, procedures, even constitutions to suit themselves by fixing elections and referendums.

 

Sadly, I think you're right. Maduro isn't going to give up peacefully.

Same for corrupt, unelected regimes.