Biodun Iginla, BBC News

Biodun Iginla, BBC News
Showing posts with label Venezuela’s National Assembly. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Venezuela’s National Assembly. Show all posts

Monday, January 28, 2019

Analysis: A week of turmoil in Venezuela


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Venezuela's National Assembly head Juan Guaido (L) has challenged the legitimacy of President Nicolas Maduro
Venezuela's National Assembly head Juan Guaido (L) has challenged the legitimacy of President Nicolas Maduro Venezuela's National Assembly head Juan Guaido (L) has challenged the legitimacy of President Nicolas Maduro AFP/File
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Caracas 
by Renee Celeste and Biodun Iginla, France24 News Analysts
Here are key developments in Venezuela since a band of soldiers briefly rose up against President Nicolas Maduro on January 21, with an opposition leader declaring himself "acting president" days later.
- Brief uprising -
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On January 21 a group of soldiers take control of a command post north of Caracas in the early hours. In a video on social media, they say they "completely repudiate" Maduro's regime and call on people to take to the streets in their support.
The uprising is quickly put down and 27 of the rogue soldiers are arrested.
There are demonstrations of support in a number of Caracas neighborhoods.
The Supreme Court, dominated by loyalists of Maduro in his standoff with the opposition, takes aim at the opposition-controlled National Assembly, declaring its leadership illegitimate and its decisions invalid.
Maduro was sworn in on January 10 for a second six-year term before the Supreme Court and not the parliament, as provided for under the constitution. The opposition and a large part of the international community, including the United States and the European Union, do not recognize the second term.
The National Assembly has promised an amnesty to all members of the military who abandon Maduro.
- US backs opposition -
On January 22, US Vice President Mike Pence gives his support to Venezuela's opposition on the eve of planned protest marches.
Maduro accuses Washington of ordering "a coup from the fascist state."
- Self-proclaimed 'acting president' -
On January 23, tens of thousands of protesters take to the streets of Caracas and other cities in rival demonstrations for and against Maduro. Clashes erupt.
In front of cheering supporters in the capital, National Assembly head Juan Guaido proclaims himself "acting president." He pledges to install a transitional government and hold free elections.
US President Donald Trump immediately issues a statement recognizing Guaido and is followed by Brazil, Canada and Colombia, among others.
However China, Cuba, Mexico, Russia and Turkey say they still support Maduro.
Maduro says he is cutting off diplomatic ties with Washington.
- Army loyal to Maduro -
On January 24, Venezuela's powerful military high command throws its weight behind Maduro. Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino, a general, accuses Guaido of attempting a "coup d'etat" and says Maduro is "the legitimate president."
Russian President Vladimir Putin expresses "support for the legitimate authorities," saying the political crisis "has been provoked from the outside."
- Guaido persists -
On January 25, Guaido calls on Venezuelans to continue their demonstrations against Maduro. He says he does not rule out including Maduro in an amnesty.
Maduro says he is ready to meet Guaido, who rejects the offer of talks.
- European ultimatum -
On January 26, several European powers say they will recognize Guaido as president unless Maduro calls elections within eight days. The 28-member EU says it will take "further actions" if elections are not called, including "the issue of recognition of the country's leadership."
Caracas rejects the ultimatum.
At the UN Security Council Russia and China block a draft US resolution supporting the National Assembly led by Guaido.
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo urges all nations to end financial dealings with Maduro.
Venezuela's military attache to Washington breaks ranks with Maduro, urging his "brothers in the military" to back Guaido.
- New demonstrations called -
On January 27, Guaido calls for new protests, on Wednesday and Saturday, which will be a "big national and international rally."
Supporters circulate copies of amnesty measures approved by the parliament to members of the military, some of who publicly burn the document.
Maduro, appearing at a military exercise, calls on the military to show "union, discipline and cohesion" to defeat what he calls an "attempted coup d'etat."
Israel and Australia recognize Guaido as interim president.
- Pope fears 'bloodbath' -
On January 28 Pope Francis says he fears a "bloodbath" in Venezuela.
Unrest since the soldiers' rebellion has left 35 people dead, Venezuelan NGOs say. 850 have been arrested.
The Saudi energy minister says the crisis in OPEC member Venezuela could impact the oil market.

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Saturday, January 26, 2019

Analysis: Double trouble: Venezuelans and their two 'presidents'


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Government supporters hold a rally in support of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro in Caracas
Government supporters hold a rally in support of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro in Caracas AFP
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Caracas 
by Renee Celeste and Biodun Iginla, France24 News Analysts
Anibal Garcia chooses to make light of a situation which has left him and many other residents of Caracas unsure as to who is in charge of Venezuela.
"Brilliant! We have two of everything in this country: two parliaments, two presidents," says the street vendor, 63.
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Prolonged economic crisis has now been joined by high-stakes political turmoil in the country whose official president is Nicolas Maduro, but where National Assembly chief Juan Guaido on Wednesday proclaimed himself in charge, on an acting basis. Guaido pledged to install a transitional government and hold free elections.
"I think we deserve a prize, don't we? The Guinness records!" Garcia says, counting the money he made during the day -- a rarity since cash has become almost impossible to find in an economy where inflation is forecast by the International Monetary Fund to hit 10 million percent this year.
The rivalry at the country's top is reflected at the legislative level.
The National Assembly is the sole institution controlled by the opposition, but the official regime has stripped it of its power since 2017, in favor of a Constituent Assembly made up of regime loyalists.
The doubling-up doesn't stop there, either.
Venezuela is home to a supreme court and an attorney general on the side of Maduro, but their equivalents are based in exile overseas, supported by the opposition.
On Wednesday Guaido said he would "formally assume national executive powers" to end the "usurpation" of power.
"Maduro is supposed to be president but he is not really liked by the Venezuelan people," Garcia said.
"My candidate is Guaido, whether or not that pleases certain people."
- 'Who is the real one?' -
In Chacaito district, residents have a lot to worry about in an economically-collapsed nation with hyper-inflation and shortages of food and medicines.
"It's madness," says one.
"Oh, that someone should come to free us," says another, while a third vows he won't accept "an unknown" as head of the country.
Each passerby has a different reply when asked who is president of Venezuela.
"Apparently there are two: Maduro and Guaido, but who is the real one, nobody knows. Legally, it's Maduro but internationally it's Guaido," says Antonio Vera, 30, a computer scientist.
The United States, Canada and major South American governments have already recognized Guaido, and on Saturday the European Union and several of its member states said they, too, would endorse Guiado unless Maduro, in power since 2013, calls new elections within eight days.
Vera, shrugging his shoulders, says he prefers not to talk about the subject, "which we will settle among ourselves."
Guaido, 35, says he is acting according to the Constitution, after Maduro was sworn in on January 10 for a second mandate following an election dismissed by the US, EU and UN as a sham.
Maduro has accused Washington -- the first to recognize Guaido as president -- of being behind an attempted coup.
China, Russia, Cuba and Bolivia continue to back Maduro.
- Still joking -
"Nicolas is the president of Venezuela but the country is doing so badly. It is in such a bad state, so sad," laments Maria Aurora Fuentes, 70, who thinks "it's not good" what Guaido did.
"It's because of that that everything isn't going well, because of others who don't want (Maduro). They have attacked him since he began his term," she says.
Yosmar Landaeta, 39, a nurse, is of the same opinion.
"Each has his version of the facts, but it's still Maduro" who is president, she said.
Jose Rodriguez, on the other hand, does not hesitate when asked who is in charge: Juan Guaido, says the musician, 22.
"He's the only one who did things according to the Constitution, who has not misled the people," Rodriguez said.
Some even have trouble remembering the name of the relatively young leader of the National Assembly, Guaido, who had been largely unknown to the public, but they still support him.
The president is the "gentleman who just launched himself, the one who they say proclaimed himself. I think we are going to give him a chance," said Thais Jiminez, 46, a hotel cleaner.
In the middle of this confusion, Venezuelans have not lost their sense of humor.
As the satirical website Chiguire Bipolar asked this week: "If I want to make fun of the president, which one do I choose?"

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Friday, August 11, 2017

BREAKING: Trump does not rule out military response to Venezuela crisis



  • From the sectionAugust 12, 2017  03H:54  GMT/UTC/ZULU TIME



Nicolás Maduro on the BBC: "What would the Queen, my friend, say?"

Media captionNicolás Maduro on the BBC: "What would the Queen, my friend, say?"

by Renee Celeste and Biodun Iginla, BBC News, Washington DC/Caracas
US President Donald Trump has said he is not ruling out a military option in dealing with the crisis in Venezuela.
"The people are suffering and they are dying," he said.
Venezuela's Defence Minister Vladimir Padrino said President Trump's suggestion was "an act of craziness".
President Nicolas Maduro's new constituent assembly has been widely criticised as anti-democratic. The US recently imposed sanctions on President Maduro, branding him a dictator.
"We have many options for Venezuela, including a possible military option if necessary," Mr Trump told reporters on Friday evening.
"We have troops all over the world in places that are very far away. Venezuela is not very far away and the people are suffering and they're dying."
The White House later said that President Maduro had requested a phone call with the American president.
In response, the White House said Mr Trump would gladly speak to his Venezuelan counterpart, when democracy had been restored in the country.
Regional pressure on the Venezuelan government has continued, with Peru ordering the expulsion of the Venezuelan ambassador from Lima after Caracas sent an "unacceptable" response to regional condemnation of its new constituent assembly.
The ambassador, Diego Molero, has five days to leave Peru, officials say.
The move by Peru's foreign ministry, announced in a statement on Twitter (in Spanish), follows the condemnation by 11 other major countries in the Americas of Venezuela's controversial constituent assembly.
The new body has the ability to rewrite the constitution and could override the opposition-controlled parliament, the National Assembly.



Media captionYour video guide to the crisis gripping Venezuela

In a separate development, Peruvian President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski, a fierce critic of Mr Maduro, has urged him to resign, saying he lost any credibility after the election of the new body.
"He's a dictator and has carried out a coup through a fraudulent election to eliminate Congress," Mr Kuczynski told Reuters news agency.
Mr Kuczynski also rejected an offer from Mr Maduro to meet face-to-face.
The Venezuelan opposition, which boycotted the election for the constituent assembly, accuses Mr Maduro of trying to cling on to power, which he denies.
The president has repeatedly said that the new assembly would bring peace to the country.
Violent demonstrations since April have left more than 120 people dead in the country.

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