- 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 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." VARIOUS OF JOURNALISTS (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) VENEZUELAN PRESIDENT, NICOLAS MADURO, SAYING: "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." JOURNALISTS NEWS CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) VENEZUELAN PRESIDENT, NICOLAS MADURO, SAYING: "A violent atmosphere is being created in Venezuela in order to justify foreign military intervention, they believe that it is the right moment, following the coup d'etat in Brazil and the whole international campaign reveals its plans and intentions to create a psychological profile to sensitise people around the world." NEWS CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS
- 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. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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