Venezuela congress allows remote voting to thwart government pressure on opposition
Record ID:
1448763
Venezuela congress allows remote voting to thwart government pressure on opposition
- Title: Venezuela congress allows remote voting to thwart government pressure on opposition
- Date: 17th December 2019
- Summary: CARACAS, VENEZUELA (DECEMBER 17, 2019) (REUTERS) OPPOSITION LEADER JUAN GUAIDO WALKING WITH OFFICIALS GUAIDO WALKING ON GROUNDS OF NATIONAL ASSEMBLY GUAIDO HEADING TOWARDS MEDIA ON GROUNDS OF NATIONAL ASSEMBLY FOR COMMENTS (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) OPPOSITION LEADER, JUAN GUAIDO, SAYING: "It's not a government that is disputing this, it is a dictatorship that is systematically killing off any opposition voice, journalists, trade unionists, politicians, political parties. Today, Venezuela is in a dictatorship, and the standing is for conditions that favour the narrative of the dictatorship of a false narrative." GUAIDO LEAVING GUAIDO WALKING IN NATIONAL ASSEMBLY AHEAD OF SESSION GENERAL VIEW OF SESSION IN PROGRESS VARIOUS OF GUAIDO DURING SESSION VARIOUS OF LAWMAKERS DURING DEBATE GUAIDO CALLING FOR VOTE ON MEASURE TO ALLOW FOR REMOTE VOTING (NOT A SOUNDBITE) VARIOUS OF LAWMAKERS RAISING HANDS AS PART OF VOTE TO APPROVE REMOTE VOTING LAWMAKERS AT NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) LAWMAKER ALIGNED WITH MADURO GOVERNMENT, FRANCISCO TORREALBA, SAYING: "We say that this modification (in voting) is completely unconstitutional. This modification is not possible to do given the norms that are established on the national legislature's power, nor can it be done in any parliament in the world given that one is absent during the session. We here we are allowing votes from lawmakers who are enjoying a golden exile in Bogota, or in Washington, or in Europe. That simply is not possible because over here you vote in person, that's how it has been done historically and that is how it should be." VARIOUS OF MADURO-ALIGNED LAWMAKERS LEAVING SESSION AFTER VOTE EMPTY SEATS FROM MADURO-ALIGNED LAWMAKERS
- Embargoed: 31st December 2019 21:05
- Keywords: National Assembly President Nicolas Maduro Venezuela opposition opposition leader Juan Guaido
- Location: CARACAS, VENEZUELA
- City: CARACAS, VENEZUELA
- Country: Venezuela
- Topics: Government/Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA001BAD8GUF
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text:Venezuela's opposition-run congress on Tuesday (December 17) approved a measure allowing lawmakers to vote on legislation without being present, a response to a government crackdown that has left dozens of legislators in hiding or in exile.
President Nicolas Maduro's government, which has for years ignored congressional decisions, has launched criminal probes of opposition lawmakers in what critics call an intimidation campaign to silence adversaries.
The reform to voting procedures increases the number of legislators who would be eligible to participate in the Jan 5 election for congressional leadership. Opposition leader Juan Guaido, who in January cited articles of the constitution to assume an interim presidency, is seeking re-election.
Lawmakers voted to approve "the use of technologies for virtual participation" of members of parliament who face state persecution. Previously, the legislature could not approve measures without the physical presence of 50 percent of the legislators or their substitutes.
Opposition leaders say the ruling Socialist Party is seeking to prevent Guaido's re-election by pressuring legislators not to be present for the session.
Maduro-aligned lawmakers have called the measure unconstitutional.
Maduro dismisses Guaido as a puppet of the United States who is conspiring to overthrow him.
The pro-government Constituent Assembly, a parallel legislature created by Maduro to undermine congress, on Monday (December 16) approved a trial of four opposition legislators accused by the government of conspiracy.
(Production: Johnny Carvajal, Efrain Otero) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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