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President Nicolas Maduro took to the airwaves and announced that he accepted the loss of his majority, but pledged not to give up on the mission of deceased Hugo Chavez to create a socialist state.
Maduro recognized his party's loss and assured Venezuelans he will respect the results. He blamed the defeat on "the economic war" waged by political interests inside and outside Venezuela.
"I feel at peace with my conscience because everything we have done has been for the protection of the country," Maduro said in the national address.
Maduro isn't Chavez, and Maduro's ability to hold onto power is probably a lot weaker than Chavez's was.
However, whether the opposition can ever get enough votes to get into govt is another thing.
Maduro isn't Chavez, and Maduro's ability to hold onto power is probably a lot weaker than Chavez's was.
However, whether the opposition can ever get enough votes to get into govt is another thing.
It will be telling if they even let the next Assembly convene, or if they do, if opposition MP's start getting arrested for corruption and other things.
A thought - as long as a dictator holds the loyalty of the military, he holds power.
Just how much loyalty do the current power brokers have? Have they given the military goodies necessary to keep them in line?
If I recall, they haven't been paying them properlyA thought - as long as a dictator holds the loyalty of the military, he holds power.
Just how much loyalty do the current power brokers have? Have they given the military goodies necessary to keep them in line?
Venezuela's high court, the Supreme Tribunal of Justice, recently banned demonstrations defined as "unauthorized acts, marches, protests, gatherings," as well as "violent demonstrations" near the offices of the electoral council, known as the CNE. The Democratic Unity Roundtable, or MUD, opposition coalition in the past month has led protests nationwide demanding the CNE comply with the opposition's efforts to initiate a recall referendum on President Nicolas Maduro. "The first thing I want to tell the whole country is that there's no ruling, measure or anything that's going to keep us from going to the National Elections Council to demand respect for ... the constitution," Henrique Capriles, governor of Venezuela's Miranda state and a key opposition leader who almost defeated Maduro in a 2013 election, said during the protest.
The MUD in late April complied with the electoral council's requirement to gather signatures to proceed with the recall effort. The MUD collected more than 1 million signatures out of the nearly 200,000 that were needed. After completing the first phase of the petition process, the opposition is waiting for the CNE to provide the necessary documents to move ahead with the final phase. The MUD will need to collect signatures from 20 percent, or about 4 million, of the South American country's voting-eligible population within three days. "They believe that they annulled a constitutional right! They wont be able! More Venezuelans will unite!" Capriles added.
MUD leader Jesus "Chuo" Torrealba on Wednesday said Venezuela's problems will "not be solved with court rulings." "What's happening in Venezuela is too serious, you don't solve hunger simply with court rulings, the lack of medicine is not solved with court rulings, the people's resentment over the low lives murdering Venezuelans is not solved with court rulings that limit protests," Torrealba said.
http://cdnph.upi.com/sv/b/i/UPI-740...sition-protests-Supreme-Court-protest-ban.jpg
Nicolas Maduro suffers blow in Venezuela vote - CNN.com
President Nicolas Maduro took to the airwaves and announced that he accepted the loss of his majority, but pledged not to give up on the mission of deceased Hugo Chavez to create a socialist state.
Maduro recognized his party's loss and assured Venezuelans he will respect the results. He blamed the defeat on "the economic war" waged by political interests inside and outside Venezuela.
"I feel at peace with my conscience because everything we have done has been for the protection of the country," Maduro said in the national address.
His words state that he will accept the election results, now lets see if his actions follow suit.
My view is his party will find some way to declare martial law and try to cling onto power.
But the people being tired of shortages and wiping their asses with leaves does not equate to the government getting tired of trampling them under tank treads.It's time for them to give up Venezuela so it can return to some semblance of normalcy. People get tired of not having food to eat, or electricity, or toilet paper.
Nicolas Maduro suffers blow in Venezuela vote - CNN.com
President Nicolas Maduro took to the airwaves and announced that he accepted the loss of his majority, but pledged not to give up on the mission of deceased Hugo Chavez to create a socialist state.
Maduro recognized his party's loss and assured Venezuelans he will respect the results. He blamed the defeat on "the economic war" waged by political interests inside and outside Venezuela.
"I feel at peace with my conscience because everything we have done has been for the protection of the country," Maduro said in the national address.
His words state that he will accept the election results, now lets see if his actions follow suit.
My view is his party will find some way to declare martial law and try to cling onto power.
Yes, follow through is the key element in this process.
But they should, were they not leftists, realize that the more they cling to power the more people will hate them.
The head of the Organization of American States (OAS) has warned of a "calamitous deterioration" of the situation in Venezuela. "The fear we have, and which we are afraid to say out loud, is that this situation could turn into a bloodbath," he said. The warning came shortly before a 24-hour strike began on Thursday. Previous opposition protests have ended in clashes and almost 100 people have been killed since the start of April.
Riot security forces members detain demonstrators after they were hit by an armoured vehicle during clashes at a rally against Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro's government in Caracas, Venezuela
In his third report on the economic and political crisis in Venezuela, Mr Almagro accused President Nicolás Maduro's government of having "blood on its hands". "Behind every detainee, every political prisoner, every person tortured and every person killed there is someone that is institutionally responsible," Mr Almagro wrote. "This regime and its rampant corruption are responsible." Mr Almagro has long been one of the fiercest and most outspoken critics of the Venezuelan government. But in recent days he has been joined by a number of international leaders in putting pressure on President Maduro. Colombia, France, Spain, the US and the EU have urged the Venezuelan government to cancel elections for a constituent assembly on 30 July.
"Not legal" - President Maduro's verdict on Sunday's poll
On Tuesday, the New York Times and Spain's El País newspaper published an opinion piece by renowned Venezuelan conductor Gustavo Dudamel saying that the assembly was "not the answer". The assembly would have the power to rewrite the constitution and to bypass the opposition-controlled legislature. Opposition politicians say Mr Maduro wants to use the assembly to entrench himself in power, while the president argues a new constitution will promote dialogue in the polarised country. The opposition have ramped up their schedule of protests in the days leading up to the elections, including a general 24-hour strike from 10:00 GMT on Thursday and a mass demonstration on Saturday.
Why is Venezuela in crisis?
* Almost 100 people have been killed in clashes stemming from the political conflict
* The deep economic crisis is made worse by the falling price of oil, which accounts for about 95% of Venezuela's export revenues and was used to finance some of the government's social programmes. Forced to make cuts, President Nicolás Maduro has seen his support fall among core backers
* Basic necessities, such as medicine and food, are in short supply
* The opposition accuses Mr Maduro of mismanaging the economy and eroding democratic institutions
* In March, the Supreme Court decided it would take over the National Assembly. The decision was reversed, but Mr Maduro was accused by opponents of trying to stage a coup. That sparked almost daily protests calling for his resignation
More on Venezuela's turmoil
