Venezuela's national assembly head denies claims he violated constitution

Record ID: 84664

  • Title: Venezuela's national assembly head denies claims he violated constitution
  • Date: 4th October 2016
  • Summary: CARACAS, VENEZUELA (FILE) (REUTERS) ***WARNING CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** VARIOUS OF RAMOS BEING SWORN IN VARIOUS OF RAMOS TALKING TO OTHER OFFICIALS VARIOUS OF RAMOS WITH PRESIDENT NICOLAS MADURO VARIOUS OF RAMOS AT A RALLY
  • Embargoed: 19th October 2016 19:40
  • Keywords: Delcy Rodriguez Henry Ramos Allup National Assembly constitution
  • Location: CARACAS, VENEZUELA
  • City: CARACAS, VENEZUELA
  • Country: Venezuela
  • Topics: Government/Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA00252LBXOJ
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text:Venezuela's National Assembly President denied allegations on Tuesday (October 4) that he vilified President Nicolas Maduro and encouraged foreign meddling when he spoke out against the Foreign Ministry.
    Two weeks ago, 72-year-old Henry Ramos Allup called the Venezuelan Foreign Ministry "ignorant, clumsy, ridiculous, lying, a laughing stock and international shame".
    Ramos also called on various international organisations to pay special attention to Venezuela's problems, including inflation, recession and shortages of food and medicine.
    The move prompted Venezuela's Foreign Minister Delcy Rodriguez to file a complaint with the attorney general on Monday (October 3) accusing Ramos of violating the constitution, saying that in his comments he had "vilified the president" and "asked for (foreign) intervention in Venezuela."
    "I don't think that even with the foreign minister's broadest or most comprehensive interpretation (I have committed anything listed in this article). I have not committed any of the allegations in this article, nor have I invaded the territory, nor have I plotted with a foreign power to invade Venezuela, nor done anything listed in this article," said Ramos.
    Ramos said the opposition would not be silenced by the row.
    "If she thinks that with these negative, improper attitudes, they are going to inhibit the Venezuelan opposition so we don't continue to condemn the recurring criminal conduct of some officials from some public organisations, she is wasting her time because we will continue condemning it," he said.
    The opposition won control of the National Assembly in a December election, propelled by voter anger over product shortages, raging inflation that has annihilated salaries, and rampant violent crime in the country.
  • Copyright Holder: FILE REUTERS (CAN SELL)
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2016. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
Register