Venezuela's Maduro says to resolve Supreme Court controversy

Record ID: 645212

  • Title: Venezuela's Maduro says to resolve Supreme Court controversy
  • Date: 31st March 2017
  • Summary: CARACAS, VENEZUELA (MARCH 31, 2017) (REUTERS) ***WARNING CONTAINS PROFANITY*** VARIOUS OF DEMONSTRATORS WITH UPSIDE-DOWN VENEZUELAN FLAGS PROTESTERS ON STREET VARIOUS OF PROTESTERS WITH PLACARDS THAT READS "NO MORE DICTATORSHIP" VARIOUS OF PROTESTER BANGING COWBELL MORE OF PROTESTERS ON STREET (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) PROTESTER, ALICIA FERNANDEZ, SAYING: "The government has taken all the power, it's horrible. It is a situation that, I don't know if you can call it a dictatorship, but it is totalitarianism, it is incredible that they (government) are the only ones who rule. They can protest against us and we can't. It is strange they (government) have not sent in the National Guard and that they haven't removed us with tear gas and everything. This is not possible, this is a grave situation." PROTESTER WITH PLACARDS AND CHANTING PROTESTER CHANTING "MADURO GET OUT" VARIOUS OF PROTESTER IN STREET WEARING A BLINDFOLD (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) PROTESTER WEARING BLINDFOLD, STEFANY RINCON, SAYING: "When tyranny is the law, the revolution is in order, gentlemen. Get up! Venezuela is waking up, who is going to help it? Be men. I am a girl and I have more guts than you (government) and I'm not moving from here. It's for my nieces and nephews, my family and for my mom." PROTESTER WITH UPSIDE-DOWN VENEZUELAN FLAG PROTESTER CHANTING "WE WANT FREEDOM, NO MORE DICTATORSHIP, WE WANT FREEDOM" PROTESTER WITH PROFANE MESSAGE ON PLACARD PROTESTER CHANTING "ELECTIONS NOW" PROTESTER ON THE STREET CHANTING "ELECTIONS NOW"
  • Embargoed: 15th April 2017 00:48
  • Keywords: Venezuela President Nicolas Maduro National Assembly constitution democracy
  • Location: CARACAS, VENEZUELA
  • City: CARACAS, VENEZUELA
  • Country: Venezuela
  • Topics: Lawmaking,Government/Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA0026AALQO3
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: EDITORS PLEASE NOTE: THIS EDIT CONTAINS MATERIAL WHICH WAS ORIGINALLY 4:3
    EDITORS PLEASE NOTE: THE BANNER IN SHOT 18 CONTAINS PROFANITY
    Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro said on Friday (March 31) he would resolve within hours the controversy over the Supreme Court's assumption of the opposition-led legislature's functions, which has sparked widespread protests and international condemnation.
    Having already shot down most of the National Assembly's measures since the opposition won control in 2015, the pro-Maduro Supreme Court this week said it was assuming the legislature's functions because it was in "contempt" of the law.
    The move has prompted cries of "dictatorship" and prompted the country's powerful attorney general Luisa Ortega to break ranks with Maduro.
    But a defiant Maduro said he will resolve the matter at a government event in Caracas.
    Maduro, 54, a former bus driver and self-declared "son" of late leftist predecessor Hugo Chavez, has long criticised the opposition-held National Assembly for trying to usurp him from power.
    He repeated to supporters that the Assembly has committed "illegal acts" by seeking international support on national affairs.
    Protesters have taken to the streets of the country to denounce the Assembly's annulment by the court.
    With the country wrestling with product shortages, rampant crime and three-digit inflation, citizens want early elections to be held.
    Maduro's ratings have plummeted to just over 20 percent in Venezuela. Critics blame a failing socialist system, whereas the government says its enemies are waging an "economic war".
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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