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Thread: Bernie should have promoted Maduro socialism

  1. #11
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    'No recall vote' for Venezuela's Maduro...

    Venezuela's President Maduro 'won't face recall referendum'
    Mon, 16 May 2016 - There will be no recall referendum against Venezuelan President Maduro, Vice-President Aristobulo Isturiz says, accusing the opposition of fraud.
    Venezuela's Vice-President Aristobulo Isturiz has ruled out the possibility of a recall referendum being held against President Nicolas Maduro. "Maduro won't be ousted by a referendum because there will be no referendum," Mr Isturiz said. Two weeks ago, opposition politicians began the process by handing in a petition signed by 1.85 million people. But Mr Isturiz said the opposition had "acted too late, had done it wrong and had committed fraud".

    The opposition have previously warned the referendum may be hard to push through, as they alleged that the National Electoral Council (CNE) is staffed by government loyalists. Many Venezuelans blame Mr Maduro for the economic crisis the country is experiencing. Its economy contracted by 5.7% last year and is expected to shrink further this year. Inflation is at 180%, according to official figures, and there are shortages of medicines and basic food items.


    President Nicolas Maduro (L) speaks with Venezuela"s Vice President Aristobulo Isturiz during a rally against the opposition"s amnesty law at Miraflores Palace in Caracas

    Steps towards a recall referendum

    * 1% of voters on the electoral roll have to sign a petition within 30 days to kick-start the process
    * 20% of voters (almost four million) have to sign a second petition in order to trigger the referendum on Mr Maduro
    * For the referendum to be successful, an equal or greater number of voters than those who elected Mr Maduro would have to cast their vote in favour of the recall. Mr Maduro won the 2013 election with 7,587,579 votes

    On Friday, President Maduro declared a state of emergency to "denounce, neutralize and overcome the external and foreign aggressions against our country", which he blames for Venezuela's economic problems. Mr Maduro did not specify what powers the state of emergency would give him except to say it would offer Venezuelans "fuller, more comprehensive protection".

    Timing is key

  2. #12
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    Venezuelan protestors tear-gassed, demand Maduro’s ouster...

    Venezuelans demand Maduro’s ouster
    Fri, May 20, 2016 - ‘EASY’: Venezuelan Vice President Aristobulo Isturiz said the referendum was a ‘trap’ and called for the opposition to focus on unseating the president in the 2019 elections
    Venezuelan protesters on Wednesday demanded a referendum on ousting Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, defying riot police who fired tear gas and a state of emergency that the opposition has blasted as unconstitutional. However, Maduro warned that if anti-government acts turned violent “I will not hesitate” to ratchet up the extraordinary measures in force, “to fight for the peace and security of this country.” The opposition organized the demonstrations in Caracas and two dozen other cities and towns to press for a recall referendum against Maduro this year. More than 1.8 million signatures calling for the vote have been gathered on a petition that was handed to the Venezuelan National Electoral Council two weeks ago.

    Police and soldiers using tear gas and pepper spray blocked about 1,000 demonstrators from marching on council headquarters, journalists said. “Recall! Recall! Maduro Out!” the crowd yelled, holding aloft anti-government placards and Venezuelan flags. Incidents were reported during demonstrations in five Venezuelan states. About 30 people were arrested, the opposition and non-governmental organizations said. The protests were the first since the 60-day state of emergency Maduro imposed this week that gives broad powers to security forces to maintain public order. The order gives broad powers to the government, military and police to ignore constitutional protections and tackle what Maduro has said are threats to domestic and external security, and critical shortages of food and energy.


    Anti-government demonstrators try to break through a line of Venezuelan national police in an effort to reach the headquarters of the Venezuelan National Electoral Council in Caracas

    The only visible effects so have been the diversion of some scarce food for handout to poor citizens, and greater vigilance by security forces. However, Maduro said he had scope to take the state of emergency further, implying that he could impose greater military control over the population to put down challenges to his authority. The Venezuelan National Assembly, controlled by the opposition, on Tuesday rejected the decree establishing the state of emergency. However, the Venezuelan Supreme Tribunal of Justice, which has many judges appointed by Maduro’s late predecessor, Hugo Chavez, might overrule that, as it has other congressional decisions. If it is maintained regardless, the opposition has urged the public to defy the state of emergency. It has also asked the army to decide whether it backs the constitution or Maduro.

    In Wednesday’s protest, Venezuelan National Assembly President Henry Ramos Allup urged the government to come to a peaceful resolution over the crisis. “We don’t want a bloodbath or a coup d’etat,” he said. However, the government is in no mood to reach a compromise. Venezuelan Vice President Aristobulo Isturiz called the referendum push a “trap” and urged the opposition to instead focus on the next presidential election in December 2019. “If you win, Maduro will give up power. Easy. What’s the problem?” he said. Maduro claims the adversity he is facing is manipulated by US interference working with Venezuela’s “fascist” right. By way of evidence, he said a US surveillance aircraft twice violated his country’s airspace last week. The US Department of Defense on Wednesday denied the allegation.

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    Venezuelan opposition protesters tear gassed, blocked by national guard
    May 18, 2016 -- The Venezuelan opposition was quickly greeted with obstruction and tear gas on Wednesday after launching a march in Caracas over a referendum seeking to oust President Nicolas Maduro.
    The march was scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. local time in Caracas' Venezuela Plaza and within half an hour there were widespread reports of security officials, mainly the Venezuelan National Guard, using tear gas against demonstrators and obstructing protesters' paths. Several marches were held nationwide aimed to descend on the regional headquarters of Venezuela's National Electoral Council, or CNE. "CNE rectors, high military commanders and government officials: Do not be complicit in human rights violations that Maduro advances to cling to power," opposition leader and National Assembly member Freddy Guevara said in a statement.

    The Democratic Unity Roundtable, or MUD, opposition coalition held the protest march to demand the CNE comply with the opposition's efforts to initiate a recall referendum on Maduro. The march culminated when opposition leaders handed over a letter to Luis E. Rondón, head rector of the CNE, which urged for the electoral council to proceed with the second phase of the referendum process. 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. There were reports of several major subway stations being shut down in Caracas on Wednesday as the march occurred, incidents similar to what occurred last Wednesday in the MUD's first major protest demanding CNE action. "Metro closed access to Caracas. The fear Nicolas Maduro has of the people who want recall and change," Henrique Capriles Radonski, governor of Venezuela's Miranda state and a key opposition leader who almost defeated Maduro in a 2013 election, said in a statement. "When they rob you in Caracas you can't find one officer. Today they are all in the streets over the fear Maduro has that we ask the CNE to validate our signature!"

    The opposition is working to hold the recall referendum in which Venezuelans will be asked whether Maduro should be removed from the presidency by the end of the year. Maduro's approval ratings are usually below 20 percent -- at times dipping into single digits -- meaning the likelihood of his removal is high. On Tuesday, Maduro took aim at the opposition's referendum efforts. "The opposition wants a coup d'etat, foreign intervention and economic warfare. Recall is an option, not an obligation," Maduro said. "We are not required to hold any referendum in this country of any kind." Tensions were high as demonstrators were targeted by tear gas in the streets of Caracas, including one incident caught on video.

    Venezuelan opposition protesters tear gassed, blocked by national guard - UPI.com
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    Venezuela's Maduro calls OAS head a traitor
    May 19, 2016 - Venezuela's parliament on Thursday formally solicited for OAS action.
    Luis Almagro, the secretary general of the Organization of American States, fiercely rejected and condemned Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro over accusations of being a "traitor." The recent spat between both men began on Tuesday when Maduro told journalists that Almagro "has been a traitor for a long time." "At some point I will tell his story. I know his secrets," Maduro said in reference to his accusation that Almagro works as the head of the OAS to advance the interests of the United States. "The Americans, the CIA, have played a master move using Almagro as their agent."

    Almagro didn't take kindly to Maduro's remarks. Using Twitter, the secretary general posted 12 tweets directly calling out the leader on Wednesday. "I'm not a traitor either to my ideas or my principles BUT YOU ARE A TRAITOR to your people," Almagro wrote. "You will NEVER be able to undo so much suffering, intimidation, misery and anguish you've created for your people," Almagro wrote in another.


    Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro said the head of the Organization of American States is working to advance U.S. interests in his country.

    Maduro did not reply directly to Almagro's commentary, but the Venezuelan president's foreign minister, Delcy Rodriguez, replied. "Mr. Almagro, every time you make a statement you express your hatred against Venezuela and its legitimate authorities. You are part of the imperialist detritus," Rodriguez wrote. "You only repeat the scripted words which your imperialist masters dictate to you," Rodriguez added. "You will never give orders to Venezuela!" Almagro replied to Rodriguez by saying that "A lie, although repeated a thousand times, will never be truth."

    Meanwhile, on Thursday, Luis Florido, of Venezuela's opposition-controlled National Assembly, delivered a solicitation to Almagro urging the secretary general to invoke the OAS' Inter-American Democratic Charter, which would initiate an emergency Permanent Council meeting over fears of a diminishing democracy in Venezuela. Venezuela's consent is not required if the OAS were to invoke the charter. "Our call to the world: Raise your voices for Venezuela! Let us avoid the aggravation of the humanitarian crisis and the continuing deaths of innocent Venezuelans," Florido said in a statement.

    http://www.upi.com/Top_News/World-Ne...?spt=sec&or=tn

  3. #13
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    Maduro tells OAS to 'shove it'...

    Venezuela’s leader tells OAS to ‘shove it,’ urges rally
    Thu, Jun 02, 2016 - Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro urged people to demonstrate against the Organization of American States (OAS) in Caracas yesterday over what he labels its meddling in Venezuela’s political crisis.
    As part of an escalating war of words, Maduro on Tuesday told the head of the Washington-based organization to “shove it.” The verbal barrage came after OAS Secretary-General Luis Almagro called for an urgent meeting on the Venezuelan crisis, warning democracy was at risk in the country. Oil-rich Venezuela’s economy is in very dire straits and the opposition wants to remove the president through a referendum. There are increasing signs of social unrest, such as looting, with shortages of most basic consumer goods such as soap and toilet paper. In a 132-page letter to the president of the OAS Permanent Council, Almagro requested a meeting of the organization’s 34 member states from Saturday next week to June 20. “The institutional crisis in Venezuela demands immediate changes in the actions of the executive branch,” Almagro wrote, adding that the socialist nation is “at risk of falling immediately into a situation of illegitimacy.”

    The opposition-controlled legislature had requested that Almagro invoke the Inter-American Democratic Charter — which regulates government behavior in members states — to assess whether the Maduro government violated standards. “Mr Almagro, you can take your Democratic Charter ... put it in a skinny little tube and shove it wherever it fits,” Maduro fired back at a rally of thousands of his supporters in Caracas. “Venezuela must be respected. No one is going to apply any charter to Venezuela. I call for a national rebellion in the face of these international threats.” Maduro also vowed to sue the congressional leadership for “treason” and “usurping” executive duties.

    Later on Tuesday, appearing on TV, Maduro said: “Seeking to intervene in Venezuela is a crime. I call for mobilization against interventionism.” He said he wanted “a big anti-imperialist and anti-Almagro march” by young Venezuelans who follow Maduro’s socialist agenda. The leftist leader accuses the US and the OAS of conspiring against his government at the behest of the “fascist Venezuelan right,” which he blames for severe shortages of food and medicine gripping the recession-racked country. He has decreed a state of emergency and recently held military exercises to counter the alleged foreign threat.

    The OAS leader has repeatedly sparred with Maduro in recent months, calling him a “dictator.” Under the OAS Charter, the Permanent Council may vote to suspend Venezuela’s membership with a two-thirds vote, on the grounds of preserving democracy. Venezuela’s economy has plummeted along with global crude prices over the past two years. The crisis has been aggravated by electricity shortages that have forced rolling blackouts, school closures and a dramatically shortened work week for public sector employees. Polls indicate that nearly seven in 10 Venezuelans want Maduro to go. Early last month, an opposition coalition turned in as many as 1.85 million signatures demanding a referendum to recall the unpopular president. The leftist leader’s allies say the petitions are rife with fraud. The opposition welcomed Almagro’s move and urged the international community to step up pressure on Maduro’s government.

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    Recall referendum decision delayed...

    Decision delayed on referendum to recall Venezuela's Maduro
    June 3, 2016 - The meeting was to confirm or deny the validity of signatures on a recall petition.
    Elections officials in Venezuela canceled a planned meeting to determine if a referendum to oust President Nicholas Maduro can proceed while protesters gathered to decry the country's lack of food. The country's National Election Council was set to decide Thursday if a petition of 1.85 million signatures, the first step in removing Maduro from office, was valid. The council's meeting with opposition leaders, in control of Venezuela's National Assembly since elections in December, was abruptly and indefinitely canceled.

    While anti-Maduro forces in the government remained uncertain on how to proceed, opposition spokesman Jesus Torrealba said, "We are going to announce to the nation the steps we will take in the face of this unprecedented situation. We call on the Venezuelan people to remain calm." Maduro's United Socialist Party says at least 10,000 of the signatures on the petition are fraudulent.

    The Roundtable for Democracy, a coalition of opposition parties, ran on a platform of ousting Maduro before the expiration of his term in 2019. They blame the socialist president for social tension caused by an economic crisis. Venezuela has a 700 percent inflation rate, the world's highest, as well as daily power outages, food and medicine shortages, an increase in violent crime, and a paralysis in government. About 100 protesters in Caracas, the capital, shouting, "No more talk, we want food," got within six blocks of the presidential palace Thursday before they met another group of protesters and were dispersed by police with tear gas.

    http://www.upi.com/Top_News/World-Ne...?spt=sec&or=tn

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    Thumbs up

    Recall petition invalidated...

    Venezuela recall: Opposition leaders' signatures voided
    Sat, 11 Jun 2016 - Venezuela's opposition leaders say their signatures on a petition for a referendum to oust President Nicolas Maduro have been invalidated.
    Former presidential candidate Henrique Capriles is among those who say their signatures have been ruled out for "failing to meet the requirements". The Speaker of the National Assembly, Henry Ramos Allup, described the move as "shameful" and "a provocation". The decision was announced on Friday by the National Electoral Council (CNE). The electoral body's president, Tibisay Lucena, said more than 600,000 signatures had been invalidated. The other voters who signed the petition - more than 1.3 million people - will need to turn up at regional electoral offices to confirm their identity later this month. Voters will have five days from 20 June to have their signatures checked.

    'Dead voters and children'

    The opposition handed over the petition on 2 May. It said it had gathered the signatures of 1.85 million voters backing a recall referendum, many more than the 197,000 needed at this initial stage. The CNE said on Friday there were 1.97 million signatures on the list. Mr Maduro's government said there was widespread fraud in the process. It said the names of thousands of dead voters and children were on the petition. More than 10,000 dead voters and more than 3,000 people under the voting age signed the forms, said Ms Lucena. Mr Capriles said the electoral authorities were working alongside the government in order to derail the recall referendum process.


    Henrique Capriles at a protest in Caracas

    But he urged voters to get ready to comply with the CNE demand and go to government offices to have their identities checked later this month. Another high-profile opposition activist, Lilian Tintori, also tweeted that her signature had been invalidated by the electoral body. Ms Tintori is the wife of jailed opposition leader Leopoldo Lopez, sentenced last year for allegedly inciting violence in anti-government protests. Ms Lucena warned that the process would be immediately suspended until order was restored if there was "any act of violence, trouble or aggression".

    Venezuela is in a serious economic crisis, which the opposition blames on mistaken left-wing policies of Mr Maduro and his predecessor, the late Hugo Chavez. The inflation rate is one of the highest in the world and there are long queues outside shops. Mr Maduro says the shortage of goods is the result of an economic war waged by the country's elite against his government. He defeated Mr Capriles in a tight election three years ago and was elected for a six-year term.

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    The country has more oil than Saudi Arabia yet our socialists here want more socialism. They should be flayed and fed to ants.
    ΜOΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ


  7. The Following User Says Thank You to Peter1469 For This Useful Post:

    waltky (06-25-2016)

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    Red face

    600,000 of 2 million signatures were fraudulent...

    Petition to recall Venezuelan president 'validated,' opposition says
    June 25, 2016 -- Venezuelan opposition leaders said they have enough validated signatures on a petition to remove President Nicolas Maduro in a recall referendum.
    "The total national validation, in spite of all the obstacles, is 409,313 signatures. The annulment will happen in 2016," Henrique Capriles, the opposition politician, said Friday. The initial petition handed in last month gathered almost 2 million signatures but election officials said 600,000 of those were fraudulent. Residents who signed the petition had until Friday to have their identity cards and fingerprints checked. Only 1 percent of the electorate -- 194,729 voters -- were needed to sign the petition in the first phase.

    The process next must be validated by election officials. Then, a second petition must be signed by 4 million people -- 20 percent of the population. If a referendum can't be first schedule until after Jan. 10, he would be replaced by the vice president, Aristobulo Isturiz, a supporter of Maduro. Maduro was elected to a six-year term in April 2013 after the death of Hugo Chavez. The opposition said Maduro's socialist policies have led to rampant inflation and shortages of food and basic goods.

    The recent slump in oil prices has burdened the country. "The government, the police and the national guard are the first ones stealing the food," Manuel Araque, a farmer in Barlovento, told Al Jazeera. "If this government continues in power, they will ruin us." Maduro, who says he is the victim of an "economic war" led by businesses with the backing of the U.S., alleges the signature process had irregularities and vowed no referendum will take place this year. "If there is one, we will go and win it. If there isn't, political life in this country will go on," he said.

    http://www.upi.com/Top_News/World-Ne...?spt=sec&or=tn
    See also:

    OAS chief blames Venezuela's problems on Maduro regime
    June 24, 2016 -- The head of the Organization of American States called for a recall of Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro to relieve the country of inflation and food shortages.
    In a report issued Thursday at the Washington headquarters of the organization comprising 34 Western Hemisphere countries, Secretary General Luis Almargo blamed Maduro's government for Venezuela's economic collapse, and urged support for a recall referendum. "This crisis is reaching a breaking point. These challenges cannot be blamed on external forces. The situation facing Venezuela today is the direct result of the actions of those currently in power," Almargo's report to the OAS Permanent Council said. He then itemized some of Venezuela's problems.

    "Venezuela holds some of the largest oil reserves on the planet, with vast fertile land and large mineral resources. What should be one of the wealthiest countries in the region is facing unprecedented levels of poverty, a critical humanitarian crisis and one of the highest violent crime rates in the world. The confrontation between the branches of government has caused the failure of the political system and its collapse, which in turn has worsened economic, social and humanitarian conditions in the country. Inflation has reached 720 percent. The GDP is predicted to drop, according to economic indicators, another 8 percent this year. External debt has reached $130 billion, or the equivalent of an estimated 6-years' worth of oil exports. Venezuela has the 9th highest unemployment rate in the world. 73 percent of households and 76 percent of Venezuelans lived in poverty in 2015. After the 12th increase since the government was elected in 2013, the minimum wage is approximately, according to official statistics, $24 per month; that is less than a dollar per day. The systematic failure of the controlled exchange rate system has caused the currency to lose 99 percent of its value since 2013. International businesses have shut their doors because no one is able to pay. There are unprecedented food and medical shortages across the country."

    Maduro, chosen by former President Hugo Chavez to succeed him as leader of the socialist country, typically blames its problems on outside influences, notably alleged U.S. interventions in Latin America, and attempts to overthrow the government. At the Washington meeting, Almargo was accused of attempting to orchestrate a coup of the Venezuelan government. "The abuses and surpassing of authority by the secretary general are my concern," responded Nicaraguan representative Denis Ronaldo Moncada Colindres. "He is trying to overthrow sovereign states represented here. He is an administrative official. He is involving [the OAS] in a coup against Venezuela."

    Almargo's report was circulated, the OAS said, to build dialogue to find a solution to the problems of an OAS member, and not as a call to punish Venezuela for actions which could be interpreted as violations of the OAS charter. "Dialogue is important. However, we cannot allow it to be an excuse for inaction. The Venezuelan people cannot afford delays for finding solutions to the problems they face, noted Michael Fitzpatrick, the U.S. representative to the OAS.

    http://www.upi.com/Top_News/World-Ne...?spt=sec&or=tn
    Last edited by waltky; 06-25-2016 at 03:39 PM.

  9. #18
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    Sounds like the DNC.
    ΜOΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ


  10. #19
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    First step for Maduro recall passes muster...

    Venezuelan campaign for Maduro recall passes first hurdle
    Tue, 02 Aug 2016 - The National Electoral Council in Venezuela approves the first step in an opposition campaign to recall President Nicola Maduro.
    It said the opposition had succeeded in gathering 1% of voter signatures in all 24 of Venezuela's states. The move is the first part of the opposition's push for an early end to President Maduro's term in office. In a further twist, the Supreme Court declared the parliament in contempt for swearing in three opposition delegates.
    Deep divisions

    The three delegates were elected last year but the Supreme Court had barred them from taking up their seats over alleged irregularities in the 6 December poll. The National Assembly, which is controlled by the opposition, swore them in last week arguing that in the months since they were barred, the investigation had stalled and they were innocent until proven guilty. But on Monday the Supreme Court warned that all decisions taken by the assembly would be null and void until the three stood down.

    The opposition says the court is stacked with government loyalists intent on preventing the opposition from exerting its power in the National Assembly. Venezuela's political and economic crisis has deeply divided the country. Shortages of basic goods are widespread, as is looting. The inflation rate is one of the highest in the world and there are long queues outside shops.

    The National Electoral Council (CNE) said Mr Maduro's opponents had cleared the threshold of obtaining 200,000 valid signatures on a petition demanding that the president face a recall referendum. The council did not set a date for the next stage of the lengthy recall process - when the opposition will need to collect four million signatures in just three days. The opposition accuses Mr Maduro's administration of mismanaging the economy. Mr Maduro was elected in April 2013. His term runs until 2019.

    Next steps towards a referendum

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    Maduro playin' dirty...

    Venezuelan public workers to be fired if they support Maduro recall
    Aug. 24, 2016 -- Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro's administration vowed to fire high-ranking government employees who supported the opposition's presidential recall referendum efforts Wednesday.
    Mayor of Caracas Jorge Rodríguez, a leading member of Maduro's ruling United Socialist Party of Venezuela and head of a signature-verification commission established by Maduro's government during the opposition's recall efforts, on Monday said high-ranking employees who do not support late former President Hugo Chavez's socialist revolution will be fired if they do not resign by Wednesday. "In the public administration we cannot have as managers people who don't support the revolution," Rodríguez said during a press conference. "They have a period of 48 hours to make sure workers in trusted positions, in leadership roles, find other jobs."

    Rodríguez said he would disclose the names of employees who supported the Democratic Unity Roundtable opposition coalition's petition efforts to oust Maduro to relevant ministers and public companies. Venezuelan law, which offers wide-ranging protections to most employees, states that employees who hold managerial positions can be fired without reason. Venezuela has up to 3 million public employees and about half are temporary employees whose jobs depend on contract renewals. The opposition is working to hold the recall referendum, in which Venezuelans will be asked whether Maduro should be removed from the presidency, by the end of the year.

    Maduro's approval ratings are usually below 20 percent -- at times dipping into single digits -- meaning the likelihood of his removal is high if a recall referendum is held. The opposition coalition will need to collect signatures from 20 percent, or about 4 million, of the voting-eligible population within three days to trigger the referendum. Democratic Unity Roundtable leader Jesus "Chuo" Torrealba in a Venezuelan radio program said Rodríguez's statements amount to "blackmail and extortion." "It's a violation of the constitutional right to express one's political opinions," Torrealba said.

    http://www.upi.com/Top_News/World-Ne...?spt=sec&or=tn
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    Venezuela's Maduro seeks to cut funds to opposition-controlled parliament
    Aug. 3, 2016 -- Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro asked the Comptroller General and the Supreme Court to block resources to the opposition-controlled National Assembly.
    Maduro on Tuesday said he wants to block the National Assembly's access to public funds because it is operating "outside the law." The unicameral parliament became majority-controlled by the Democratic Unity Roundtable, or MUD, opposition coalition after historic elections in December that soundly defeated Maduro's socialist government. On Monday, Venezuela's National Electoral Council, or CNE, confirmed the opposition coalition gathered enough signatures to move to the second phase of a recall process against Maduro. The MUD is working to hold a recall referendum, in which Venezuelans will be asked whether Maduro should be removed from the presidency by the end of the year.

    During a televised address on Tuesday, Maduro said he would seek to cut off the parliament from public funds in reference to the swearing in of three opposition lawmakers. In late December, Venezuela's supreme court -- the Supreme Tribunal of Justice -- suspended the three coalition members and one pro-government member who were elected to the National Assembly pending an investigation of allegations of electoral fraud. Venezuelan constitutional experts disagree on the circumstances surrounding the suspension and whether the three should be allowed to serve in the legislature during the election investigation. The high court has been repeatedly criticized as acting as an extension of the socialist regime established under former President Hugo Chavez.

    The suspension removes the opposition coalition's two-thirds super-majority, which would enable it to remove judges from the supreme court, particularly after the outgoing United Socialist Party of Venezuela -- led by Maduro -- was accused of stacking the court before the change of power. The opposition has now twice sworn in the suspended members, an act Venezuelan Attorney General Reinaldo Muñoz deemed "absolutely unconstitutional and unlawful."

    Maduro suggested the National Assembly does not exist. "For the National Assembly being outside the law, as head of the National Treasury, I cannot deposit resources to a nonexistent National Assembly," Maduro said. "I cannot use public resources in institutions that flout and call for the contempt of laws." The Venezuelan president said workers employed within the parliament would receive salaries directly if parliament is cut off financially.

    http://www.upi.com/Top_News/World-Ne...1470243510/?st
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    Maduro's government seeks to ban Venezuelan opposition over 'gigantic' fraud
    July 27, 2016 -- Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro's administration on Tuesday petitioned the national election commission to ban the Democratic Unity Roundtable opposition coalition, saying it committed fraud in its recall referendum efforts.
    Jorge Rodríguez, a member of Maduro's ruling United Socialist Party of Venezuela, mayor of Caracas and head of a signature-verification commission established by Maduro's government during the opposition's presidential recall efforts, filed a petition with the National Electoral Council, asking the council to cancel the political registration of the opposition coalition, known as the MUD. Earlier this year, the opposition submitted more than 1.8 million signatures to the council, known as the CNE as part of a petition process seeking to activate a recall referendum. Just 200,000 signatures 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 Venezuela's voting-eligible population within three days. Reaching that final phase has proved difficult. The opposition is working to hold the recall referendum, in which Venezuelans will be asked whether Maduro should be removed from the presidency, by the end of the year. The MUD have accused the CNE of attempting to hinder the opposition's efforts to recall Maduro. The opposition has held massive nationwide protests over the cause.

    The petition to ban the MUD is based on accusations of fraud related to more than 300,000 petition signatures, Rodríguez said. "It is public, it is known, it is communicated and it is fully demonstrated that the ... MUD incurred the most gigantic fraud which has been known in the political and electoral history of Venezuela," Rodriguez said Tuesday outside of the CNE's headquarters, adding that "307,747 signatures did not meet one or more technical criteria; and 53,658 of those are very serious irregularities; for example 10,995 people dead, 9,333 identification numbers that are nonexistent, 1,335 politically disqualified for being convicted of felonies and 3,003 under the age of 18."

    Maduro's approval ratings are usually below 20 percent -- at times dipping into single digits -- meaning the likelihood of his removal is high if a recall referendum is held. "The CNE must, is obliged, at the request of the Ministry of Interior or a political party, to attend immediately and expeditiously the cancellation of the registration of the MUD," Rodríguez added.

    http://www.upi.com/Top_News/World-Ne...1469622390/?st

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