'Democracy' in Venezuela

[William Joyce]

So many choices, Pepe!

http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D8T3M1P00&show_article=1

 

[OrnotBitwise]

He sounds just like Dick Cheney! Poor Venezuelans . . . .

 

[Annie]

He sounds just like Dick Cheney! Poor Venezuelans . . . .

Actually sounds more like Hitler in 1933 and NO, Bush/Cheney are not equivalent with Hitler.

 

[jillian]

Actually sounds more like Hitler in 1933 and NO, Bush/Cheney are not equivalent with Hitler.

You don't need to go back that far. It's the same garbage spewed by this admin. "If you don't vote for us, you're supporting terrorists". "If you don't support the war in Iraq, you're a traitor". "If you don't support the war in Iraq, you don't support the troops". "If you don't support the patriot act, violating the FISA Laws or (insert any other violation of our rights that's occurred in the last 7 years) then you're supporting terrorists".

All too familiar.

 

[Annie]

You don't need to go back that far. It's the same garbage spewed by this admin. "If you don't vote for us, you're supporting terrorists". "If you don't support the war in Iraq, you're a traitor". "If you don't support the war in Iraq, you don't support the troops". "If you don't support the patriot act, violating the FISA Laws or (insert any other violation of our rights that's occurred in the last 7 years) then you're supporting terrorists".

All too familiar.

Sorry Jillian, that moral equivilency doesn't wash.

The proposed revisions would do away with presidential term limits, extend terms from six to seven years, let Chavez appoint regional vice presidents and eliminate Central Bank authority, among other changes. Critics warn he would also have the power to shut down Venezuelan newspapers, television and radio stations by declaring a state of emergency, and the government could detain citizens without charges during such a period.

Chavez insists the reforms are meant to deepen democracy and give Venezuelans more of a voice in government, especially through neighborhood-based "communal" councils.

 

[Paulie]

Actually sounds more like Hitler in 1933 and NO, Bush/Cheney are not equivalent with Hitler.

Not quite yet, anyway.

 

[waltky]

Venezuela's Catholic Church says gov't. is dictatorship...

Venezuela's Catholic Church says political crisis is 'real situation of dictatorship'
Dec. 30, 2016 -- The Catholic Church leadership in Caracas, Venezuela, said the ruling government's failure to recognize the opposition-controlled National Assembly represents "a real situation of dictatorship."

In a joint statement with other church officials, Archbishop of Caracas Cardinal Jorge Urosa Savino said that President Nicolas Maduro and Venezuelan institutions' continued policy of declaring void the National Assembly disrespects elections carried out in December 2015 in which the opposition gained a majority of the unicameral legislature. "Failure to respect the Assembly constitutes a real situation of dictatorship for ignoring the popular will expressed in December of 2015 ... [when] the people indicated mostly not to agree with the current government," Savino and other church officials said in the statement that will be read aloud during mass on Jan. 1, the Catholic Church's World Day of Peace.

The National Assembly was effectively stripped of power after the opposition gained control. The Supreme Tribunal of Justice, or TSJ, -- Venezuela's highest court -- late last year ruled the parliament void until three suspended opposition members were removed from parliament amid an investigation into electoral fraud. The removal of the three members would remove the opposition's two-thirds qualified majority, also known as supermajority. Despite the opposition yielding by allowing the suspended members to resign from their posts in November, the National Assembly is still not recognized by the TSJ, which alleges the parliament is in contempt because it oversteps its authority.

Earlier this month, in a constitutional sidestep, the TSJ swore in new National Electoral Council, or CNE, which is supposed to be the responsibility of parliament. Throughout the year, the TSJ ruled unconstitutional or ruled void numerous bills that passed in the parliament, including one granting amnesty to political prisoners.

Church leadership said the topic of political prisoners is one of the most urgent issues needed to be resolved in 2017. "We call for the release of prisoners for acts connected with political activities," the church leaders said. "Both the judiciary and the government have legal and constitutional instruments to immediately release the majority of those citizens, more than 100, who suffer unjust imprisonment."

Venezuela's Catholic Church says political crisis is 'real situation of dictatorship'

 

[waltky]

There gonna be riotin' in the streets...

Venezuela high court voids parliament vote to oust Maduro, hold elections
Jan. 10, 2017 -- Venezuela's Supreme Tribunal of Justice has annulled a National Assembly vote in which the legislature declared President Nicolas Maduro "abandoned his post" in an attempt to remove him from power.

Citing an article in Venezuela's Constitution stipulating the president "shall become permanently unavailable to serve" in case of the "abandonment of his position," the opposition-controlled unicameral parliament on Monday voted in a majority to oust Maduro and to hold elections.

The National Assembly's vote was expected to be largely ceremonial. Late Monday, the high court, or TSJ annulled the parliament measure, stating it was outside of parliamentary jurisdiction. "In recent days, some of the country's political spokesmen have publicly stated the possibility of declaring, by agreement of the majority of deputies of the National Assembly, the alleged 'abandonment of the office' of" Maduro, the TSJ said in a statement, ruling void the measure by citing a decree issued in November ordering National Assembly members to "refrain from continuing the procedure of declaring 'political trial' against the president of the republic and, in short, to dictate any type of act that is outside its constitutional attributions."

Venezuelans milling around high court building​

The TSJ said National Assembly members are prohibited from "acts that disturb public order, instigate against authorities ... as well as other actions outside the constitutional rights and legal order." The TSJ also said it "calls for the use of dialogue as a fundamental tool to resolve political differences and, especially, to fulfill constitutional duties and purposes."

Last year, the TSJ gutted the opposition's efforts to hold a recall referendum in which citizens would be asked whether Maduro should be removed from power. Maduro's approval ratings often dip into the single digits, meaning his removal through a recall could be likely. "The National Assembly decision seeks to give course to what more than 80 percent of Venezuelans want: Elections for all! Solution to the crisis!" Henrique Capriles Radonski, governor of Venezuela's Miranda state and a key opposition leader, said in a statement on Monday.

Venezuela high court voids parliament vote to oust Maduro, hold elections

 

[Political Junky]

So many choices, Pepe!

http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D8T3M1P00&show_article=1

link doesn't work

 

[waltky]

Anti-Maduro Politicians Arrested in Sweep in Venezuela...

Venezuela Arrests Anti-Maduro Politicians in Sweep
Friday 13th January, 2017 - 'This is a raid against those of us who will not sell our principles,' Capriles said on Thursday, adding he had been fined for the alleged irregularities. 'They're paving the way to later declare us... barred from office.'

Interior Minister Nestor Reverol, who is part of a new 'anti-coup' unit set up by Maduro, said authorities were dismantling a new 'terrorist' plot by right-wing politicians. 'We wish to announce the detention of General Raul Isaias Baduel,' he said in a speech on state TV. 'Important criminal evidence was uncovered in a search of his home.' Baduel played a key role in the rescue of Maduro predecessor Hugo Chavez from a coup in 2002, but later broke ranks with him and was arrested on charges of illicit enrichment when defense minister.

Baduel has always called the accusations politically motivated. While Maduro accuses opponents of seeking to oust him with the connivance of Washington, critics say he has taken Venezuela down an increasingly dictatorial path. More than 100 political prisoners are being held in Venezuela, according to the opposition and rights groups. Vatican-backed mediation talks intended to free prisoners and ease the bitter political standoff stalled in December.

On Wednesday, Maduro said the opposition-held National Assembly had effectively 'self-dissolved' by defying Supreme Court rulings against it. 'The regime accelerates its anti-democratic strategy of continued coup d'etat against democracy, the constitution and the people, ignoring parliament, jailing lawmakers and harassing governors,' the opposition Democratic Unity coalition said.

Venezuela Arrests Anti-Maduro Politicians in Sweep

 

[waltky]

Uncle Ferd says dey ain't never gonna be happy `cause dey want a socialist gubmint dat works - an' dey ain't none...

Venezuela: Opposition attacks Maduro over Supreme Court address
Mon, 16 Jan 2017 - President Maduro is attacked for delivering his state of union speech before the Supreme Court.

The Venezuelan opposition has accused President Nicolas Maduro of violating the constitution by delivering his annual state of the union address before the Supreme Court. During his speech, Mr Maduro said he hoped to be able to address the National Assembly next year. Last week the assembly declared that he had in effect abandoned his post by mismanaging the economy. Mr Maduro said he was fulfilling his daily duties. After the National Assembly's decision, the Supreme Court ruled that Mr Maduro was allowed to deliver his annual report to the judges. "It is public knowledge that I am fully exercising my constitutional duties day after day," said Mr Maduro at the beginning of his speech, which was broadcast on national television.

'A costly error'

Opposition leader Henrique Capriles tweeted that Mr Maduro's address in the Supreme Court breached the constitution and confirmed that he was "a costly error in our history". Mr Capriles was defeated by Mr Maduro in the 2013 presidential elections. He is now governor of Miranda state. Mr Maduro said that he remained "committed to dialogue and to harmonious, balanced, constitutional solutions". During his address, he admitted that Venezuela's economic model based on oil exports had "become unviable" because of a sharp drop in global prices. Revenue from oil exports dropped from $48bn (£39.4bn) in 2008 to $5.3bn (£4.3bn) in 2016. Mr Maduro said he was postponing until 20 February the decision to withdraw from circulation the country's most common banknote, the 100 bolivars.

Nicolas Maduro speaks to first lady Cilia Flores next to Supreme Court judges​

He first announced that the note would cease to be legal tender on 15 December, which led to chaos and long queues outside bank branches. The measure has been already delayed several times. New higher denomination notes will begin circulating later on Monday, Mr Maduro said. President Maduro's critics say he and his predecessor, Hugo Chavez, are to blame for the sky-rocketing inflation and chronic shortages of basic goods the country is experiencing. Mr Maduro in turn blames Venezuela's business elite, accusing it of sabotaging the country's economy and conspiring with "imperialist forces" in the United States to force him from office.

Venezuela: Opposition attacks Maduro over Supreme Court address - BBC News

 

[waltky]

Anti-Corruption efforts in So. America shines spotlight on two politicians...

Venezuela probing allegations of $100M bribes under Chavez, Maduro
Jan. 26, 2017 -- Venezuela's Chief Prosecutor Luisa Ortega Díaz on Thursday said the Public Ministry launched an investigation into accusations officials under late former President Hugo Chavez and his replacement Nicolas Maduro received nearly $100 million in bribes from Brazilian company Odebrecht.

"An arrest warrant was issued against a person for his alleged involvement in the Odebrecht case," Ortega Díaz during her In tune with the Public Ministry radio program. Ortega Díaz said she will coordinate with the attorney general of Brazil to send a Venezuelan prosecutor to Brazil to interview Marcelo Odebrecht, the Brazilian company's CEO and tycoon sentenced in March to 19 years in prison.

Ortega Díaz also said authorities in Switzerland requested information regarding the accounts of several Venezuelan officials over alleged links to the bribes, including a list of all Venezuelans who received deposits from Odebrecht directly or indirectly.

The company is accused of paying about $98 million in bribes to Venezuelan officials from 2006 through 2015 to obtain and hold public works contracts. Odebrecht in December agreed to pay at least $2.6 billion in criminal penalties over its role in the massive corruption scandal.

Dozens of Brazilian business leaders and politicians have been indicted for corruption, money laundering and racketeering over the scandal in Petrobras, a semi-public oil and gas company. Politicians are accused of accepting bribes -- either personal bribes or bribes distributed to their political party -- in exchange for lucrative government contracts for Odebrecht and Braskem.

Venezuela probing allegations of $100M bribes under Chavez, Maduro

See also:

Ex-billionaire Eike Batista targeted in Brazil corruption probe
Jan. 26, 2017 -- Brazilian authorities on Thursday began an operation seeking the arrest of nine people, including former billionaire Eike Batista, related to the Petrobras corruption scandal.

Brazilian Federal Police attempted to arrest Batista at his home in an upscale Rio de Janeiro neighborhood, but Batista's lawyers said the former billionaire was traveling, adding that he planned to turn himself in to authorities after returning, G1 Rio de Janeiro reported. Police said Batista and the other suspects -- identified as "large business owners" -- are accused of laundering about $100 million, most of which has already been repatriated to Brazil. The suspects are accused of active corruption, passive corruption, criminal organization and money laundering.

About 80 Brazilian Federal Police officers carried out arrest and search and seizure operations on Thursday. The warrants were issued by Brazil's 7th Federal Criminal Court. Batista's $35 billion fortune plummeted after Brazil's economy crashed starting in 2014, which led to the collapse of his Grupo EBX conglomerate.

Dozens of Brazilian business leaders and politicians have been indicted for corruption, money laundering and racketeering over the scandal in Petrobras, a semi-public oil and gas company. Politicians are accused of accepting bribes -- either personal bribes or bribes distributed to their political party -- in exchange for lucrative government contracts. In 2015, the Brazilian economy was nearly 5 percent smaller than it was the previous year. The Petrobras scandal is partly to blame because it led to decreases in foreign investment.

Ex-billionaire Eike Batista targeted in Brazil corruption probe

 

[jon_berzerk]

the dems still wish to be more like Venezuela

 

[there4eyeM]

...but, Venezuela is a republic.

 

[there4eyeM]

He sounds just like Dick Cheney! Poor Venezuelans . . . .

Actually sounds more like Hitler in 1933 and NO, Bush/Cheney are not equivalent with Hitler.

They are, however, war criminals.

 

[jon_berzerk]

The "Bolivarian Revolution" refers to a leftist social movement and political process in Venezuela led by late Venezuelan president Hugo Chávez, the founder of the Fifth Republic Movement and later the United Socialist Party of Venezuela. The "Bolivarian Revolution" is named after Simón Bolívar, an early 19th-century Venezuelan and Latin American revolutionary leader, prominent in the Spanish American wars of independence in achieving the independence of most of northern South America from Spanish rule. According to Chávez and other supporters, the "Bolivarian Revolution" seeks to build a mass movement to implement Bolivarianism, popular democracy, economic independence, equitable distribution of revenues, and an end to political corruption in Venezuela. They interpret Bolívar's ideas from a socialist perspective.[citation needed]

Bolivarian Revolution - Wikipedia

 

[Claudette]

So many choices, Pepe!

http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D8T3M1P00&show_article=1

Wait. I thought Venezuela was happy with its socialist utopia?? I thought Chavez created a utopia.

What happened?? LOL

 

[HenryBHough]

Obama's NOT on Richard Branson's private island.

He's in Caracas readying His campaign office!

And Mooch? She's there practicing her speech about she has always dreamed of being a Venezuelan. Apologizing for the brief eight years she was deluded into thinking she was a proud American.

 

[blastoff]

So many choices, Pepe!

http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D8T3M1P00&show_article=1

Wait. I thought Venezuela was happy with its socialist utopia?? I thought Chavez created a utopia.

What happened?? LOL

I dunno. Things must have gone off the rails somewhere, but have no fear. Sean Penn's gonna go down there and get things squared away any day now. Probably right after the Academy of Arts (laugh) and Sciences (laugh) has its upcoming circle jerk.

 

[there4eyeM]

Venezuela thus shows (to many people and to varying degrees) that democracy doesn't work, republican democracies don't work, and socialist systems don't work. Next?