In Venezuela a Constitution, elected a constituent Assembly. Critics of President Maduro hold to want this as an instrument of power abuse. They fear it could even lead to a civil war.
An armed protester in Caracas
The Venezuelan President had to be thought of as a Striptease dancer. He undress himself, piece by piece, to eventually completely naked. After he had placed the decorative trappings of the rule of law and democracy, had come to the Moment in which you realize that who the President really is: “a simple and vulgar dictator, as it has given so many in the sad history of Latin America.”
The Opposition affiliated newspaper El Nacional describes Venezuela’s socialist leader Nicolás Maduro in sarcastic words. Otherwise, the blade does not hold back in his commentary. The people at the centre of government, it is to your personal well-being. All the more sad is it, that many Venezuelans are still convinced that these circles are persecuted, in fact, a social project, the Venezuela to renew. This idea is simply wrong.
According to determined opponents of Maduro, on Thursday, in spite of the demonstration ban on the road the previous goods were to protest against the upcoming election of the constituent Assembly. In the case of the bloody clashes several people were killed. Also on Thursday, the President of Parliament, Freddy Guevara, a member of the protest movement, spoke of an Ultimatum to Maduro. This should cancel the election, otherwise more protests threatened.
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“Colony of imperialism”
The decisive action of the protesters prompted the government, in turn, to a self-conscious style of speech. The elected constituent Assembly was “one of the most democratic elements all over the world,” says about the legal adviser to the President, Elvis Amoroso, in the newspaper Últimas Notícias. The new Assembly allows for “those great dialogue, peace, harmony and forgiveness, after all Venezuelans yearned for.”
Sarcasm against Pathos: Both bearings have to prepare the trailer as the opponent of President Maduro, in strong words, to their people on the election for a constituent Assembly on Sunday. The Opposition wants to boycott the elections, the government hopes for more active participation.
19.4 million Venezuelans are called to vote. You would have to decide Important, said President Maduro – namely, the question of whether they wanted to live in a “free country or in a colony of imperialism,” said Maduro.
Opposition leader Leopoldo López was on 8. July due to his poor state of health from the prison.
Dubious Electoral System
The opposition Alliance, Mesa de la Unidad Democratica (MUD), sees it differently. It looks in the choice of one thing – the attempt by Maduro to strengthen the own Position. The Alliance points out that Maduro is looking to fill the 545 seats in the elected body of the largest Share with their own followers or those of the government related groups – trade unionists, students, pensioners -.
In addition, all 364 local are to be considered districts. In the eyes of the Opposition, that’s not fair, because sparsely populated rural regions populated in this way, compared to the much denser cities would significantly over-represented. Because Maduro recruited his followers mainly from the rural regions. In this way, he would in the election, a clear majority – although only a third of Venezuelans support him.
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Detlef Nolte: the “illusion of free elections”
The concerns of the Opposition are justified, says Detlef Nolte, Director of the GIGA Institute of Latin American studies, compared to the DW. The elections did not meet democratic demands. A third of the candidates will be appointed by the government, and also with the other representatives of the Opposition have the Look. The elections on Sunday will be “the illusion of free elections,” said Nolte. “There is a great risk that the government will be reformed in a way the Constitution so that they lose elections ever again.”
Similarly, it also looks to Claudia Zilla, a Berlin science and politics Foundation (SWP). “It is disputed exactly when Venezuela has ceased to be a democracy,” writes Zilla, the heads of SWP research group America. It refers to Maduro’s “increasingly authoritarian exercise of power, such as the removal of the separation of powers, or the restriction of freedom of speech and freedom of Assembly.” In 2016, approximately, the authorities have two processes – a Referendum on the dismissal of the President and the upcoming regional elections to be cancelled. “The serious danger of a defeat, should have led the government, the last semblance of democracy.”
Maduro means Hunger: a protest poster in Caracas
Maduro is the militia arm
The Opposition has called therefore for a Boycott of the elections. In spite of the demonstration ban, it calls on its followers to take their Protest to the street. This could re-ignite the violence again, and possibly stronger than ever. Since April, including several police officers died in the clashes between protesters and security forces, around 100 people.
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Venezuela’s Opposition begins for more strikes
At the same time, Maduro does little to de-escalate the situation. In an Interview with the Russian channel Russia Today he accused the United States, together with Opposition to his overthrow. But the country was determined to fight back: “If Venezuela is divided, if the socialist Revolution is forced to take up arms, we will fight beyond the borders again under a common flag.” Maduro has already 500 000 of the militia arm themselves.
On the Brink of dictatorship
The outcome of the election could be for the political future of the country is crucial. The violence could increase even further, even the threat of a civil war.
Still however, the country has a Chance to prevent the worst. “Venezuela has a strong dictatorial moves, but still, the Opposition can Express their views, even if it says members of the opposition and dissidents give up, sit in the prison”, Detlef Nolte from the Hamburg-based GIGA Institute. Nevertheless: “Venezuela is on the Brink of dictatorship.”