Venezuelan Elections: The Stakes Are High

[Comet]

I enjoy world news, and Central American and South American is a particular interest of mine. Very explosive situations all over the place, all unique and interesting.

This is a tremendous and very well-written piece about Venezuela and their upcoming election between Chavez and Capriles. Chavez of course is a firm socialist while Capriles is far more moderate and wishes to release the strangle-hold on businesses who are being punished in many ways under Chavez. It has been better for the poor in a Chavez-lead Venezuela, but as Socialism usually does, will end in disaster. Businesses and large companies are being robbed, extorted and taken advantage of by the Venezuela government in a Robin Hood-esque manner of helping the poor.

Bet you never thought of Robin Hood as a socialist.

Venezuela should elect Capriles.

But they will not.

You see, it is hard to shake a socialist government once it has it's claws in you. Chavez's version and personal taste of socialism is to take from businesses in an oppressive manner and make life better for the poor. Since the poor make up the majority of the nation, you have most of the people who's lives are a little better and know you are the one that made that happen. Some recognize where the money is coming from and object based on principle, but most will take the some-what better life and keep socialism in power.

The problem arises that after a while, the system collapses and ends poorly, rarely flourishing for a long span. Socialism works in the short-term, if you even call it working, but for the long haul the wheels usually come off the wagon and a change is made, sometimes in a violent manner.

Capriles will put Venezuela on a better path, but the country will most likely stick with Chavez. I hope I am wrong.

The articles is terrific and touches on the history between the two candidates, U.S. relations, Venezuela's relations with other countries in the region, crime in the country and much more.

A very pleasurable and informative piece.

Venezuelan Elections: The Stakes Are High | Fox News Latino

[waltky]

Capriles banned from public office for 15 years...

Venezuela bans key opposition leader
Sunday, April 9, 2017 -- Venezuelan authorities on Friday banned a top opposition leader from public office for 15 years, the latest move in an increasingly tense power struggle in the crisis-hit country.

Henrique Capriles was one of the leaders of mass demonstrations this week against socialist President Nicolas Maduro that led to clashes with police. One protester died. State comptroller Manuel Galindo imposed a "sanction of disqualification from exercising public office for a period of 15 years," his institution said in a ruling made public by Capriles himself. The ruling said the sanction was due to "administrative irregularities" by Capriles in his post as governor of the northern state of Miranda. Capriles rejected the move and insisted he would retain his post as governor, branding Maduro a dictator. "The only one who is disqualified in this country is Nicolas Maduro. They can stick their disqualification where the sun don't shine," he told a news conference. "If the dictatorship is squealing, it is a sign that we are making progress."

The state authority's move effectively bans Capriles, a lawyer of 44, from running against Maduro in a general election due next year. If effective, it will remove from the political ring one of the most prominent contenders in the center-right opposition MUD coalition, which is pushing to remove Maduro from office. Capriles's allies vowed to push ahead with further protests planned for Saturday. "The dictatorship wants to choose its opposition. Shall we let it? No. Tomorrow we continue," wrote leading lawmaker Freddy Guevara on Twitter.

'Coup' Claim

Capriles branded Friday's ban part of what the opposition alleges is a "coup" by allies of Maduro, who is resisting opposition calls for a vote on removing him from power. "This is all part and package of the internal coup," Capriles said on Twitter, branding the government a "corrupt drug-trafficking leadership."

Capriles lost narrowly in the 2013 election that brought Maduro to the presidency after the death of his mentor Hugo Chavez — father of Venezuela's "socialist revolution." After this week's demonstrations, Maduro dismissed Capriles as "politically finished." Another pro-government leader, Freddy Bernal, alleged Capriles was inciting protests "looking for a few deaths to set the country alight."

MORE

[waltky]

Maduro settin' up his storm troopers to stay in power...

Venezuela's Maduro seeks to expand armed civilian militias
Apr 17,`17 -- Embattled Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro announced plans Monday to expand the number of civilians involved in armed militias as tensions in the crisis-wracked South American nation continued to rise.

Maduro said he hopes to expand the number of civilians involved in the Bolivarian militias created by the late Hugo Chavez to 500,000, up from the current 100,000, and provide each member with a gun. Speaking to thousands of militia members dressed in beige uniforms gathered in front of the presidential palace to mark the force's seventh anniversary, Maduro said it is time for Venezuelans to decide if they are "with the homeland" or against it. "Now is not the time to hesitate," he said.

The announcement comes as Maduro's opponents are gearing up for what they pledge will be the largest rally yet to press for elections and a host of other demands Wednesday. Thousands of Venezuelans have taken to the streets since the Supreme Court stripped the National Assembly of its last vestiges of power nearly three weeks ago, a decision it later reversed. At least five people have been killed, dozens hurt and more than 100 detained in the demonstrations. The Maduro government has vowed to hold a counter mass gathering Wednesday in defense of the socialist movement started by Chavez.

A member of the Bolivarian Militia raises his fist during the seventh anniversary celebration of the militia, in front of Miraflores presidential palace in Caracas, Venezuela, Monday, April 17, 2017. Officially known as the Venezuelan National Bolivarian Militia, it is a branch of the National Armed Forces of Venezuela created by the late President Hugo Chavez. The anniversary celebration took place with unrest spreading in Venezuela as confrontations between opposition demonstrators and authorities continue.

Chavez created the civilian militias with the goal of training 1 million Venezuelans to assist the armed forces in the defense of his revolution from external and domestic attacks. Maduro told the militia Monday that vision remains relevant as Venezuela continues to face "imperialist aggression." "A gun for every militiaman!" he cried. Maduro's government claims foreign-backed opposition leaders are fomenting violence in an attempt to remove him from power. The opposition denies that assertion, saying it is Maduro himself who is responsible for Venezuela's woes, including triple-digit inflation, rising crime and food shortages.

They also blame Maduro for ordering security forces to use tear gas against protesters and failing to stop pro-government armed groups from attacking demonstrators. Former congresswoman Maria Corina Machado posted a photo of the militia gathering Monday on her Twitter account, calling it a, "pathetic, desperate and unconstitutional attempt by the regimen to intimidate Venezuelans."

News from The Associated Press

[waltky]

Army pledges loyalty to Maduro...

Army declares loyalty to Maduro as Venezuela braces for giant demonstration
Wednesday 19th April, 2017: Venezuela's defence minister on Monday (Apr 17) declared the army's loyalty to President Nicolas Maduro, who ordered troops into the streets ahead of a major protest by opponents trying to oust him.

Venezuela is bracing for what Maduro's opponents vow will be the "mother of all protests" Wednesday, after two weeks of clashes between police and demonstrators protesting against moves by the leftist leader and his allies to tighten their grip on power. The centre-right opposition has called on the military - a pillar of Maduro's power - to turn on the president amid an economic and political crisis that has triggered severe food shortages, riots and looting.

But Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino Lopez said the army "confirms its unconditional loyalty to the president." He made the comment before thousands of rifle-carrying members of the pro-Maduro "Bolivarian militia," who cheered with fists raised at a rally outside the presidential palace. Maduro thanked the army and the militia for their support and announced he planned to expand the latter civilian force to half a million armed members. "Loyalty is repaid with loyalty," he said.

MADURO RALLIES ARMY

The rally came hours after Maduro ordered the military into the streets to defend the leftist "Bolivarian revolution" launched by his late mentor Hugo Chavez in 1999. "From the first reveille (on Monday morning), from the first rooster crow, the Bolivarian National Armed Forces will be in the streets ... saying, 'Long live the Bolivarian revolution,'" he said Sunday night in a televised address. He called for the militia to be in "permanent training" and "permanent deployment" to defend Venezuela against "any imperialist aggression" - a thinly veiled reference to the United States.

Senior opposition leader Henrique Capriles dismissed Maduro's announcement. "The old fogey has announced one rifle for every militia member. He is more desperate than ever," Capriles wrote on Twitter. "Venezuela does not want rifles, it wants food and medicine!"

'REPRESSION'

See also:

Ahead of huge protests in Venezuela, here's what you need to know
Tue April 18, 2017 - Turmoil in Venezuela has been exacerbated since the government tried to strip power from opposition; Opposition has called for protests throughout Caracas and throughout state capitals in the country

Opposition leaders in Venezuela have called protesters to the streets for what they hope will be one of Venezuela's largest marches on Wednesday, a national holiday marking the beginning of the struggle for Venezuela to gain independence from Spain. President Nicolas Maduro and his supporters have called for a countermarch on the same day. Maduro also deployed the Venezuelan armed forces to the street on Sunday night, where they will stay for the duration of the marches. Ahead of the protests, here is what you need to know.

Why are they protesting?

In short, the opposition says Maduro has created a dictatorship in the last few years. The government has repeatedly blocked any attempts by the opposition to oust Maduro from power by a referendum vote. It has also delayed local and state elections. The last election held in Venezuela, the parliamentary election of 2015, gave the opposition a majority. Critics say any elections since have been delayed because Maduro is afraid of the outcome. Then, on March 29, the Venezuelan Supreme Court dissolved the Parliament, transferring all legislative powers to itself.

Venezuela turmoil escalates

By doing away with the opposition-controlled legislative branch, the move effectively meant the remaining two branches of Venezuelan government were controlled by the ruling United Socialist Party. The opposition was outraged and called the move a coup. The decision was reversed three days later, but by that time protests had already erupted. The protests have been bloody. Six people have died and countless others, many journalists, have been injured. The opposition call became even stronger when, on April 7, the government notified main opposition leader Henrique Capriles that he had been banned from doing any political work for 15 years. The 44-year-old governor, who has run for president twice, said the government was again acting like a dictatorship.

What is Maduro's response?

Maduro, 54, is defiant. Instead of taking steps to reduce tensions with the opposition, he has taken a confrontational tone with members of the opposition and protesters, whom he calls "vandals and terrorists." "We're after and will capture the very last of the attackers," Maduro said Saturday on national TV. "You all know that I don't fool around. When I go after criminals, I get them and I will capture all of these criminals who are getting their orders from the right-wingers." In a show of force on Monday, Maduro paraded the streets of Caracas surrounded by men and women in uniform. The military has also vowed its full support to Maduro.

Venezuela protests: What you need to know - CNN.com

[saltwn]

Originally Posted by Comet

I enjoy world news, and Central American and South American is a particular interest of mine. Very explosive situations all over the place, all unique and interesting.

This is a tremendous and very well-written piece about Venezuela and their upcoming election between Chavez and Capriles. Chavez of course is a firm socialist while Capriles is far more moderate and wishes to release the strangle-hold on businesses who are being punished in many ways under Chavez. It has been better for the poor in a Chavez-lead Venezuela, but as Socialism usually does, will end in disaster. Businesses and large companies are being robbed, extorted and taken advantage of by the Venezuela government in a Robin Hood-esque manner of helping the poor.

Bet you never thought of Robin Hood as a socialist.

Venezuela should elect Capriles.

But they will not.

You see, it is hard to shake a socialist government once it has it's claws in you. Chavez's version and personal taste of socialism is to take from businesses in an oppressive manner and make life better for the poor. Since the poor make up the majority of the nation, you have most of the people who's lives are a little better and know you are the one that made that happen. Some recognize where the money is coming from and object based on principle, but most will take the some-what better life and keep socialism in power.

The problem arises that after a while, the system collapses and ends poorly, rarely flourishing for a long span. Socialism works in the short-term, if you even call it working, but for the long haul the wheels usually come off the wagon and a change is made, sometimes in a violent manner.

Capriles will put Venezuela on a better path, but the country will most likely stick with Chavez. I hope I am wrong.

The articles is terrific and touches on the history between the two candidates, U.S. relations, Venezuela's relations with other countries in the region, crime in the country and much more.

A very pleasurable and informative piece.

Venezuelan Elections: The Stakes Are High | Fox News Latino

miss you, Comet

[mlurp]

Well it happened the mother of all peaceful marches got violent and out of control as govt., gangs and police tried to stop these protest.

Massive protests in Venezuela lead to violence, uncertainty
April 19, 2017.

CARACAS, Venezuela

Anti-government protestors clashed with Venezuelan security forces and pro-administration gangs Wednesday, turning what was supposed to be a massive peaceful march into a chaotic scene of tear gas and hurled debris that left at least two dead and cast a shadow over the future of the beleaguered South American nation.

Even before the last protestors had made it home Wednesday night, the opposition was calling for more protests on Thursday, as it tries to force the socialist administration to call new elections.

Violence struck early in the day Wednesday, when a 17-year-old boy was shot dead in the Caracas neighborhood of San Bernardino as opposition protestors were gathering for what was being called the “mother of all marches.” Local media reported that a 23-year-old woman was also murdered in the border state of Táchira.

As protestors tried to punch into downtown Caracas to deliver a list of their demands, which include general elections, security forces threw up barricades and broke up the crowds with tear gas.

Isabella Antica, 48, had huddled on a side street after the Bolivarian National Guard had rushed the group she was protesting with.

“We were marching without weapons, peacefully,” she said. “The [guards] came after us and kept following us, shooting tear gas canisters at us and we were trapped … This is an injustice.”

In downtown Caracas, President Nicolás Maduro held his own rally, telling thousands of red-clad supporters that they had helped stop a Washington-backed coup.

“We have triumphed once again,” he said. “Glory be to this brave country.”

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Massive protests in Venezuela lead to violence, uncertainty | Miami Herald

OAS chief says Venezuelan regime has blood on its hands for violence at protests

Alone with with other news on this event found at this site.