Venezuela leader sees 'disappearance' of opposition legislature

Record ID: 103225

  • Title: Venezuela leader sees 'disappearance' of opposition legislature
  • Date: 17th May 2016
  • Summary: CARACAS, VENEZUELA (MAY 17, 2016) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF NEWS CONFERENCE LED BY VENEZUELAN PRESIDENT, NICOLAS MADURO (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) VENEZUELAN PRESIDENT, NICOLAS MADURO, SAYING: "The national assembly has lost political validity, it is a matter of time before it disappears, that is what I believe. It is disconnected from the national interest and I am sure that they w
  • Embargoed: 1st June 2016 23:30
  • Keywords: Venezuela Nicolas Maduro opposition National Assembly
  • Location: CARACAS, VENEZUELA
  • City: CARACAS, VENEZUELA
  • Country: Venezuela
  • Topics: Government/Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA0014I75K5J
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: President Nicolas Maduro predicted on Wednesday (May 17) the imminent demise of Venezuela's opposition-led parliament, amid an acrimonious conflict of powers that is delaying solutions to its economic crisis.
    "The national assembly has lost political validity, it is a matter of time before it disappears, that is what I believe. It is disconnected from the national interest and I am sure that they will veto the (national emergency) decree because they want to finish with this country's economic life, they say, to arrive on a red carpet to government," Maduro told reporters.
    The 53-year-old socialist leader did not specify further on what could happen to the legislature, although last month he threatened a constitutional amendment to cut short its five-year term.
    Maduro also spoke about the existence of an alleged plot orchestrated by the United States aimed at creating a scenario of violence in this South American country to justify a foreign military intervention to force him out of power.
    He said a U.S. intelligence plane - a Boeing 707 E3 Sentry - had recently violated its airspace.
    "That plane took illegal routes which will be severely protested before the U.S. government, on May 11, at 6:09 a.m.. It was detected by our airplanes and by Venezuelan military aviation. Our soldiers acted to get it out of our air space," said Maduro.
    Maduro reported that a second incursion took place on May 13 at 6:03 a.m. (1003 G.M.T.).
    U.S. intelligence officials said last week they were increasingly concerned about the potential for an economic and political meltdown in Venezuela, spurred by fears of a debt default, growing street protests and deterioration of its oil sector.
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