#DIOSDADO SWEEP.

[cvstodians]

[unwilting]

The commission faces a tall order organizing a vote without the CNE. Analysts have argued that a manual voting process is more vulnerable to vote rigging, undermining the legitimacy of the result. In 2017 the opposition independently organized a non-binding consultation that was plagued with irregularities.

The outgoing electoral authorities most recently supervised the November 2021 regional elections that saw the United Socialist Party nearly sweep all of the governor’s posts up for grabs. Despite their previous protests, the 2021 vote also marked the return of Venezuela’s hardline opposition to the ballot.

Likewise at issue is the participation of Venezuelans abroad. The opposition is seeking to include them in the primary process, however that proposal was already complicated by the fact that the government of Venezuela does not count on diplomatic recognition in places such as the United States. Ranking Chavista figure Diosdado Cabello said that only 24,000 Venezuelans abroad had registered in the commission’s platform to facilitate their vote, predicting that the primary process would be a “disaster”. Cabello also emphasized that NGOs are not permitted to intervene directly in the country’s elections, meaning they could not provide funding to support the opposition’s primary process.

[diaspora9ja]

Venezuela’s Guaido vows to challenge Maduro’s congress win | Venezuela

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro’s political alliance claimed a sweeping victory Monday in congressional elections boycotted by essentially the most influential opposition politicians and broadly criticized internationally as being fraudulent.

Maduro’s United Socialist Occasion of Venezuela and allied events captured 67 % of seats within the Nationwide Meeting in Sunday’s election, mentioned Indira Alfonzo, president of Venezuela’s Nationwide Electoral Council. Simply 31 % of the 20 million registered voters participated within the election, she mentioned.

Turnout was low with 69 % abstaining.

Parliamentary candidate Jorge Rodriguez, Venezuela’s Nationwide Constituent Meeting President Diosdado Cabello and Venezuela’s Vice President Delcy Rodriguez rejoice after the announcement of the outcomes of the parliamentary election in Caracas, Venezuela [Fausto Torrealba/Reuters]

Sunday’s predictable triumph offers Maduro’s ruling Socialist Occasion management of an expanded 227-seat Nationwide Meeting, the one official physique held by the opposition.

The win offers Maduro management of the final chief department of presidency outdoors his grasp.

“We have now recovered the Nationwide Meeting with the bulk vote of the Venezuelan folks,” Maduro mentioned in a televised deal with. “It’s an incredible victory indisputably for democracy.”

The Nationwide Meeting had been led by the United States-backed politician Juan Guaido, who has pressed to overthrow Maduro for almost two years.

In a information convention on Monday, Guaido mentioned that the boycotting of the election was “a rejection of the dictatorship,” and referred to as on his supporters to take part in a December 12 session that can ask residents whether or not they reject the outcomes and desire a change of presidency.

“They’ve imprisoned us, they’ve tortured us they usually have assassinated us, however right here we’re and right here we shall be till we see our Venezuela result in a free, democratic nation with out dictatorship,” he mentioned.

El rechazo al régimen y su fraude nos unió, ahora debemos responder en la calle.

El 12D nos movilízanos como la inmensa mayoría que somos y que quiere elegir su futuro.

Participa en https://t.co/NGzEAbm0qq

Atentos a las 10am tendremos rueda de prensa. https://t.co/qc7gmDz2vB pic.twitter.com/N6jKlgKiW6

— Juan Guaidó (@jguaido) December 7, 2020

Translation: Rejection of this regime and its fraud unites us, now we should take it to the streets. On December 12 we, just like the overwhelming majority of us who wish to select their future, will mobilise.

Polls amid disaster

The election, contested by about 14,000 candidates from greater than 100 events, comes with the nation in a deep political and financial disaster – suffocated by runaway inflation, paralysed in countless queues for petrol, missing water and gasoline provides and stricken by sudden energy cuts.

Since November 2019, inflation has reached 4,000 %. Greater than 5 million folks have fled the nation in recent times, the world’s largest migration after that of war-torn Syria.

Folks queue outdoors a polling station to solid their vote throughout parliamentary election in Caracas [Manaure Quintero/Reuters]

The Worldwide Financial Fund initiatives a 25-percent decline this 12 months in Venezuela’s gross home product or GDP, whereas hyperinflation diminishes the worth of its forex, the bolivar, now value lower than a millionth of a greenback on the free market.

Venezuela has additionally been hard-hit by the COVID-19 pandemic and voters have been required to put on masks inside polling stations, the place the flooring bore markings to make sure social distancing was maintained.

Maduro, the hand-picked successor to the late President Hugo Chavez, gained a second time period in 2018. However dozens of countries allied with the US reject his legitimacy, alleging the vote was rigged and his hottest challengers have been banned.

Guaido, 37, swore to take away 58-year-old Maduro early final 12 months – basing his declare to the interim presidency on his management of the Nationwide Meeting, whose time period legally ends in early January below the structure.

The US, which has been main the strain to take away Maduro with financial sanctions, together with an oil embargo in pressure since April 2019, refused to recognise Sunday’s vote.

“What’s occurring right this moment is a fraud and a sham, not an election,” US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo wrote on Twitter.

Venezuela’s electoral fraud has already been dedicated. The outcomes introduced by the illegitimate Maduro regime is not going to replicate the need of the Venezuelan folks. What’s occurring right this moment is a fraud and a sham, not an election.

— Secretary Pompeo (@SecPompeo) December 6, 2020

On Monday, the European Union additionally mentioned it didn’t take into account Venezuela’s parliamentary election as free or honest and rejected the outcome, calling on Maduro to chart a path in direction of nationwide reconciliation.

“The outcomes can’t be recognised by the European Union,” the EU’s high diplomat, Josep Borrell, advised a information convention, studying out a joint assertion by EU international ministers who endorsed a proper place rejecting the vote’s consequence.

“The European Union (international) ministers unanimously agreed on an evaluation that claims that this election didn’t adjust to the minimal worldwide requirements, they didn’t mobilise the Venezuelan folks to take part,” Borrell mentioned.

Guaido has been recognised by greater than 50 international locations together with the US as Venezuela’s reputable interim president, after most Western nations disavowed Maduro’s 2018 re-election as fraudulent.

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from Diaspora9ja https://diaspora9ja.com/venezuelas-guaido-vows-to-challenge-maduros-congress-win-venezuela/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=venezuelas-guaido-vows-to-challenge-maduros-congress-win-venezuela

[expatimes]

Venezuela's Guaido vows to challenge Maduro's congress win

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro's political alliance claimed a sweeping victory Monday in congressional elections boycotted by the most influential opposition politicians and widely criticized internationally as being fraudulent.

Maduro's United Socialist Party of Venezuela and allied parties captured 67 percent of seats in the National Assembly in Sunday's election, said Indira Alfonzo, president of Venezuela's National Electoral Council. Just 31 percent of the 20 million registered voters participated in the election, she said.

Turnout was low with 69 percent abstaining.

Parliamentary candidate Jorge Rodriguez, Venezuela's National Constituent Assembly President Diosdado Cabello and Venezuela's Vice President Delcy Rodriguez celebrate after the announcement of the results of the parliamentary election in Caracas, Venezuela [Fausto Torrealba/Reuters]

Sunday's predictable triumph gives Maduro's ruling Socialist Party control of an expanded 227-seat National Assembly, the only official body held by the opposition.

The win gives Maduro control of the last chief branch of government outside his grasp.

“We have recovered the National Assembly with the majority vote of the Venezuelan people,” Maduro said in a televised address. "It's a great victory without a doubt for democracy."

The National Assembly had been led by the United States-backed politician Juan Guaido, who has pressed to overthrow Maduro for nearly two years.

In a news conference on Monday, Guaido said that the boycotting of the election was “a rejection of the dictatorship,” and called on his supporters to participate in a December 12 consultation that will ask citizens whether they reject the results and want a change of government.

“They have imprisoned us, they have tortured us and they have assassinated us, but here we are and here we will be until we see our Venezuela lead to a free, democratic country without dictatorship,” he said.

El rechazo al régimen y su fraude nos unió, ahora debemos responder en la calle.

El 12D nos movilízanos como la inmensa mayoría que somos y que quiere elegir su futuro.

Participa en https://t.co/NGzEAbm0qq

Atentos a las 10am tendremos rueda de prensa. https://t.co/qc7gmDz2vB pic.twitter.com/N6jKlgKiW6

- Juan Guaidó (@jguaido) December 7, 2020

Translation: Rejection of this regime and its fraud unites us, now we must take it to the streets. On December 12 we, like the vast majority of us who want to choose their future, will mobilise.

Polls amid crisis

The election, contested by about 14,000 candidates from more than 100 parties, comes with the country in a deep political and economic crisis - suffocated by runaway inflation, paralysed in endless queues for petrol, lacking water and gas supplies and afflicted by sudden power cuts.

Since November 2019, inflation has reached 4,000 percent. More than five million people have fled the country in recent years, the world's largest migration after that of war-torn Syria.

People queue outside a polling station to cast their vote during parliamentary election in Caracas [Manaure Quintero/Reuters]

The International Monetary Fund projects a 25-percent decline this year in Venezuela's gross domestic product or GDP, while hyperinflation diminishes the value of its currency, the bolivar, now worth less than a millionth of a dollar on the free market.

Venezuela has also been hard-hit by the COVID-19 pandemic and voters were required to wear masks inside polling stations, where the floors bore markings to ensure social distancing was maintained.

Guaido, 37, swore to remove 58-year-old Maduro early last year - basing his claim to the interim presidency on his leadership of the National Assembly, whose term legally ends in early January under the constitution.

The US, which has been leading the pressure to remove Maduro with economic sanctions, including an oil embargo in force since April 2019, refused to recognize Sunday's vote.

“What's happening today is a fraud and a sham, not an election,” US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo wrote on Twitter.

Venezuela's electoral fraud has already been committed. The results announced by the illegitimate Maduro regime will not reflect the will of the Venezuelan people. What's happening today is a fraud and a sham, not an election.

- Secretary Pompeo (@SecPompeo) December 6, 2020

On Monday, the European Union also said it did not consider Venezuela's parliamentary election as free or fair and rejected the result, calling on Maduro to chart a path towards national reconciliation.

“The results cannot be recognized by the European Union,” the EU's top diplomat, Josep Borrell, told a news conference, reading out a joint statement by EU foreign ministers who endorsed a formal position rejecting the vote's outcome.

“The European Union (foreign) ministers unanimously agreed on an assessment that says that this election failed to comply with the minimum international standards, they failed to mobilize the Venezuelan people to participate,” Borrell said.

Maduro, the hand-picked successor to the late President Hugo Chavez, won a second term in 2018. But dozens of nations allied with the US reject his legitimacy, alleging the vote was rigged and his most popular challengers were banned.

. #world Read full article: https://expatimes.com/?p=15301&feed_id=22099

[insurancepolicypro]

US senses breakthrough in Venezuela crisis

He is variously known as a drug trafficker, a thug, a loyal revolutionary and the power behind the throne in Venezuela.

But his friends and enemies agree on one thing: Diosdado Cabello is one of the most important links in the chain holding up President Nicolás Maduro’s government.

So when news emerged this week that Mr Cabello had met a US intermediary for secret talks about a possible solution to Venezuela’s long-running political crisis, all sides rushed to put their own spin on the development.

Venezuela has slid into one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises, with up to a quarter of its population fleeing abroad as refugees. Years of misrule by the hard-left government have shrunk gross domestic product by more than half and destroyed oil production. Sweeping US sanctions have choked most remaining economic activity.

Propped up by Russia, Cuba and China, Mr Maduro’s government is clinging to power after what was widely seen as a rigged election last year. It has refused opposition demands for fresh elections and an interim government headed by Juan Guaidó, the head of the National Assembly and the man recognised by the US and more than 50 other mainly Western nations as Venezuela’s rightful leader.

The stalemate between Mr Maduro and Mr Guaidó has persisted throughout this year, dashing US hopes of an early end to the crisis and forcing Washington to consider other ways of achieving a breakthrough, such as covert talks with the regime.

Trump administration officials have talked before about contacts with other high-ranking Maduro government members. But they hailed news of a meeting with Mr Cabello as a breakthrough, saying it signified growing disarray at the heart of the Chavista government. According to Associated Press, which first reported the contact, it took place in Caracas last month, and a second encounter is planned.

“There have been multiple talks with over half a dozen officials in competing centres of power around Maduro,” said one senior US official. “He should wake up to the fact that these conversations are about a transition to end his power grab.”

“The constant themes in all conversations were: how to get out of the crisis, how to find an exit for Maduro, and how to save their own skins and those of their families, not necessarily in that order.”

Not surprisingly, Mr Maduro did not see it that way. Speaking during the opening of a bus terminal in the Caribbean port of La Guaira on Tuesday, the Venezuelan leader joked about revealing a secret to his audience before confirming that talks between his government and the Trump administration had taken place during the past few months “under my express and direct authorisation”.

Looking relaxed and confident, Mr Maduro said that if Mr Trump ever wanted to talk seriously about a plan to solve the Venezuela conflict, he was always open to it.

“Whether or not Maduro knows about the conversations, it’s clever of him to indicate that he does,” said one former senior US official with experience in Venezuela. “The whole purpose is to let his supporters know that the Americans have given up on the Venezuelan opposition and are now talking to him.”

Vanessa Neumann, Mr Guaidó’s envoy to the UK, said the Venezuelan opposition was pursuing a multipronged strategy to end the crisis, and the latest contacts between Mr Cabello and the US were part of that. “We will do anything it takes. We will go anywhere and talk to anyone,” she said. “The race is on to see who betrays whom. The regime will be broken by a lack of loyalty.”

Recommended

Those close to developments in Caracas said Mr Cabello is a particularly important figure not just because he is head of the National Constituent Assembly, a rival parliament set up by Mr Maduro after the opposition won the formal parliament, or because of his media reach via a weekly television programme. His military credentials as a former soldier who fought alongside Hugo Chávez also matter to the powerful armed forces, whose confidence he enjoys.

Noting that Washington had negotiated successfully with Mr Cabello before, when he agreed in 2015 to hold national assembly elections, which were subsequently won by the opposition, the former senior US official said: “I do think a deal is there to be done. The issue is that Maduro and his government are not going to rely on guarantees made by the US or the [opposition] for their security and wellbeing.”

“Both sides are trying to use these revelations against the other,” said Geoff Ramsey, a Venezuela expert at the Washington Office on Latin America. “Only they will know exactly what was discussed but the fact both Maduro and Trump have admitted being in touch is an implicit recognition of the need for some kind of meaningful, bigger negotiations to resolve the crisis.”

Mr Cabello is believed to want to lead Chavista forces in any future elections, which poses problems for a US administration that has publicly denounced him as a drug trafficker, a money launderer and an embezzler. Instead, Washington is hoping that Mr Maduro’s government will crumble amid internal divisions. John Bolton, Mr Trump’s national security adviser, has compared the key figures in the regime to “scorpions in a bottle, staring each other down, waiting to see who stings first”.

But after so many false dawns for opposition hopes in Venezuela, observers are cautious. “It could be hyperactive paralysis,” said Nicholas Watson, who leads Latin America political risk coverage for consultancy firm Teneo. “Lots of parts moving but nothing is actually happening.”

Additional reporting by Gideon Long in Bogotá

from insurancepolicypro http://insurancepolicypro.com/?p=113

[islamicvoice-blog]

Venezuela: President Maduro vows to defeat coup

New post https://is.gd/6DIged

The Venezuelan president has vowed to defeat a “coup d’etat” against Venezuelan sovereignty, local media reported.

“We will defeat a coup d’etat that intends to intervene in political life, throw Venezuelan sovereignty to the side and install a puppet regime for the interests of the U.S. and its allies in the Western world,” Nicolas Maduro said late Friday at a press conference in Miraflores Presidential Palace in Caracas.

He stated that international media has been putting pressure on Venezuela and manipulating facts about the South American country.

The president said Venezuela should solve its domestic problems alone without the intervention of imperialist U.S.

Maduro also called for a national dialogue, which can help Venezuela.

Separately, Juan Guaido, the leader of Venezuela’s opposition-led National Assembly, who declared himself acting president, said demonstrations will continue until Maduro leaves his office.

Guaido also requested the support of the Venezuelan army.

Guaido meets socialist party leader

Venezuelan authorities claimed that Guaido secretly met with the leader of United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV) Diosdado Cabello in a Caracas hotel on Jan. 22.

The country’s Minister of Communication and Information Jorge Rodriguez had published footage of the meeting from Caracas hotel.

Venezuela has been rocked by protests since Jan. 10 when Maduro was sworn in for a second term following a vote boycott by the opposition.

On Wednesday Guaido declared himself acting president.

U.S. President Donald Trump recognized Guaido as president of the country.

Maduro quickly shot back, cutting off diplomatic relations with the U.S. and giving U.S. diplomats 72 hours to leave the country.

He has repeatedly lashed out at the U.S., saying Washington is waging an economic war against him and his government amid a sweeping sanctions campaign.

Brazil and the Organization of American States recognized Guaido as Venezuela’s leader prior to his formal announcement. Argentina, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Guatemala, Panama and Paraguay have followed suit while Bolivia and Mexico continue to recognize Maduro.

Several South American countries, Russia and Turkey have also expressed solidarity with Maduro.

[investmart007]

CARACAS, Venezuela | Maduro favored as Venezuelans vote amid crisis

New Post has been published on https://is.gd/HBcHE9

CARACAS, Venezuela | Maduro favored as Venezuelans vote amid crisis

CARACAS, Venezuela— Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro is expected to win a second six-year term in Sunday’s election, despite a deepening crisis that’s made food scarce and inflation soar as oil production in the once wealthy nation plummets.

More than 1 million Venezuelans have abandoned their country for a better life abroad in recent years, while those staying behind wait in line for hours to buy subsidized food and withdraw cash that’s almost impossible to find.

While polls show Venezuelans overwhelmingly blame Maduro for their mounting troubles, he’s still heavily favored to win thanks to a boycott of the election by his main rivals amid huge distrust of the nation’s electoral council, which is controlled by government loyalists.

Maduro ended his campaign Thursday dancing on stage before a cheering crowd in Caracas while blaming Venezuela’s increasingly dire outlook on a U.S.-orchestrated “economic war.”

“I extend my hands to all Venezuelans so that we can move forward together with love and take back our homeland,” said Maduro, the hand-picked successor to late President Hugo Chavez, who launched Venezuela’s leftist revolution. “I have seen the future of Venezuela and a historic victory awaits us.”

On Friday, the Trump administration added Diosdado Cabello, a key Maduro ally, to a growing list of top officials targeted by financial sanctions, accusing the socialist party boss of drug trafficking and embezzlement.

Maduro’s main rival, independent candidate Henri Falcon, has faced the dual challenge of running against a powerful incumbent while trying to convince skeptical Venezuelans to defy the boycott called by the main opposition coalition.

Blasting Maduro as the “candidate of hunger,” he has campaigned on a promise to dollarize wages pulverized by five-digit inflation, accept humanitarian aid and seek assistance from the International Monetary Fund — all proposals Maduro has rejected as tantamount to surrendering to the U.S. “empire.”

“I swear that I will liberate Venezuela from this dictatorship,” Falcon shouted to supporters at his final campaign rally Thursday in his home city of Barquisimeto. “I swear it in the name of God.”

Also on the ballot is television evangelist Javier Bertucci, who has cut into Falcon’s support by providing free soup at rallies.

Around 80 percent of Venezuelans believe Maduro has done a bad job, yet turnout is expected to be the lowest since Chavez was elected in 1998, with only 34 percent saying they are certain they will vote, according to recent polling by Datanalisis.

The election has drawn broad criticism since some of Maduro’s most-popular rivals were barred from running, and several more were forced into exile. Echoing the views of Venezuela’s tattered opposition movement, the United States, European Union and many Latin American countries have already said they won’t recognize the results.

In addition, pressure tactics honed in past campaigns have kicked into overdrive, further tilting the playing field in Maduro’s favor.

Almost 75 percent of households said they received government-issued food boxes in the past three months, according to Datanalisis, and Maduro on the stump has promised that the 16.5 million holders of the fledgling “fatherland card” will be rewarded for their vote. Just to be sure, so-called “red points” will be set up outside voting centers checking peoples’ cards, which are needed to access social programs.

“This is neither a competitive or democratic election, and the result may not reflect the preference and decision of the voters,” said Luis Vicente Leon, president of Datanalisis.

Still, some question the wisdom of not competing in an election, even if it is widely seen as rigged.

A 2010 study by the Brookings Institution covering 171 electoral boycotts around the world — from Afghanistan to Zimbabwe — found that such maneuvers rarely succeed in rendering elections illegitimate in the eyes of the world. Instead, the boycotting party usually emerges weaker and the incumbent empowered.

Javier Corrales, a Venezuela expert at Amherst College, said the opposition’s sit-out strategy could be as disastrous as its boycott of congressional elections in 2005, which led the ruling party to sweep all seats and pass legislation removing presidential term limits that further strengthened Chavez.

“The irony is that this is the least democratic election of all but it’s also the best chance the opposition has ever had,” said Corrales. “If Maduro wins by a large margin, he’ll take it is as a green light to continue radicalizing and moving in the direction of completely destroying the private sector.”

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By Associated Press – published on STL.News by St. Louis Media, LLC (Z.S)

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