- Title: Venezuelan assembly breaks down over Maduro hearings
- Date: 25th October 2016
- Summary: CARACAS, VENEZUELA (OCTOBER 25, 2016) (REUTERS) ***WARNING CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** VARIOUS OF SHOVING BETWEEN PRO-GOVERNMENT AND ANTI-GOVERNMENT LEGISLATORS NATIONAL ASSEMBLY LEADERS DURING THE ALTERCATION (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) PRESIDENT OF THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY, HENRY RAMOS ALLUP, SAYING: "Accept a debate and don't speak such nonsense. The last thing you said about it being insolent, being irresponsible to go to the OAS (Organisation of American States), that we are supporting an invasion by going to a foreign body, that it will be us who will be put in prison. It is irresponsible that (this happens) in the same week that this National Assembly, headed by me, sends a commission to the Organisation of American States, of which Venezuelan is a member, to call for the democratic charter which has been written by Venezuelan because the Venezuelan government has broken the democratic charter. Let's see if it is true that we will be prohibited from leading the country and if we will be put in prison when we arrive, if they dare." VARIOUS OF PARLIAMENT VOTING ON POLITICAL TRIAL AGAINST MADURO ASSEMBLY IN SESSION EXTERIOR OF ASSEMBLY PADLOCK ON GATE OUTSIDE ASSEMBLY VARIOUS OF GOVERNMENT SUPPORTERS OUTSIDE ASSEMBLY
- Embargoed: 9th November 2016 20:42
- Keywords: Venezuela National Assembly hearing Nicolas Maduro Henry Ramos
- Location: CARACAS, VENEZUELA
- City: CARACAS, VENEZUELA
- Country: Venezuela
- Topics: Government/Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA00155I8Y13
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Venezuela's opposition-led National Assembly voted on Tuesday (October 25) to open a political trial against President Nicolas Maduro for violating democracy, but the socialist government dismissed the move as meaningless.
The OPEC member's political standoff has worsened since last week's suspension of an opposition push to hold a referendum to try and recall Maduro, 53.
With that avenue closed, the opposition coalition has raised the stakes, using its power base in congress to begin legal action against Hugo Chavez's unpopular successor.
Unlike neighbouring Brazil, where Dilma Rousseff was impeached and removed from the presidency in August, a trial against Maduro would be largely symbolic given the government and Supreme Court have declared congress illegitimate.
The opposition is also sending a commission to the Organisation of American States (OAS) to sanction Venezuela for breaking the body's democratic charter.
"Accept a debate and don't speak such nonsense. The last thing you said about it being insolent, being irresponsible to go to the OAS (Organisation of American States), that we are supporting an invasion by going to a foreign body, that it will be us who will be put in prison. It is irresponsible that (this happens) in the same week that this National Assembly, headed by me, sends a commission to the Organisation of American States, of which Venezuelan is a member, to call for the democratic charter which has been written by Venezuelan because the Venezuelan government has broken the democratic charter. Let's see if it is true that we will be prohibited from leading the country and if we will be put in prison when we arrive, if they dare," said opposition figure and president of the National Assembly, Henry Ramos Allup.
The opposition has accused Maduro of veering into dictatorship by sidelining the legislature, detaining opponents and leaning on compliant judicial and electoral authorities to block a plebiscite on his rule.
Polls showed the majority of Venezuelans wanted a referendum on Maduro which he would have likely lost, triggering a presidential election had it taken place this year. But the election board nixed the process, citing court orders after government allegations of fraud in an initial signature drive.
Noting recent shifts to the right in other Latin American countries, Venezuela's government has said it is the victim of an international conspiracy against socialism led by the United States and fanned by servile foreign media.
It blames a two-year slump in global oil prices and a U.S.-fostered "economic war" for Venezuelans' suffering. It has also accused political foes of seeking a violent coup against Maduro, a former bus driver and union activist who became Chavez's long-serving foreign minister then vice-president.
Red-shirted Maduro loyalists marched through Caracas to welcome him home and denounce the National Assembly. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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