- Title: Candidates gear up for Venezuela's controversial constituent assembly vote
- Date: 26th July 2017
- Summary: CARACAS, VENEZUELA (RECENT) (REUTERS) ***WARNING CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** CARACAS NEIGHBOURHOOD FORMER FOREIGN MINISTER AND CANDIDATE FOR CONSTITUENT ASSEMBLY, DELCY RODRIGUEZ, ARRIVING IN NEIGHBOURHOOD IN GREY VEHICLE TO CAMPAIGN VARIOUS OF RODRIGUEZ GREETING RESIDENTS RODRIGUEZ SPEAKING DURING HER CAMPAIGN RODRIGUEZ WALKING ALONG STREET, GREETING RESIDENTS IN THEIR HOMES RODRIGUEZ INSIDE LOCAL HOME DURING CAMPAIGN, SPEAKING WITH FAMILY (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) FORMER FOREIGN MINISTER AND CANDIDATE FOR CONSTITUENT ASSEMBLY, DELCY RODRIGUEZ, SAYING: "The Venezuelan people will be choosing their candidates for the constituent assembly to build a unified approach to a better dialogue, by way of understanding, not with bullets, not with violence, not with intolerance, not with death. We're going to be full of love, full of hope to solve the problems in Venezuela without an external force trying to impose an ideology that doesn't fit. Venezuela is sovereign and independent." VARIOUS OF RODRIGUEZ DANCING WITH A FAMILY VARIOUS OF POSTERS FOR CANDIDATES ON THE STREETS OF CARACAS MEDIUM SHOT OF INTERVIEW WITH POLITICAL ANALYST OSWALDO RAMIREZ (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) POLITICAL ANALYST OSWALDO RAMIREZ SAYING: "What work can be accomplished there? Well, first you don't have people who are qualified for the constituent assembly, not even lawyers, with the legislative wherewithal to be able to formulate the composition of a law, other than being able to pass the sovereign spirit on to someone who can make a law. But part of it is the same constituency per se, and like the article of the constitution: we're going to reform the state completely."
- Embargoed: 9th August 2017 15:01
- Keywords: Caracas Venezuela Constituency National Assembly Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro constituency candidates Delcy Rodriguez Antonio Leon José Hernández MarÃa Borges
- Location: CARACAS, VENEZUELA
- City: CARACAS, VENEZUELA
- Country: Venezuela
- Topics: Government/Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA0016RCRQRN
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: With just days to go, candidates for Venezuela's constituent assembly election are on the final stretch of campaigning for a controversial vote that the government says will unite the divided nation, but which the opposition decries as a means to solidify socialist rule.
Over 5,000 candidates have put their hand up to be a part of the National Constituent Assembly, a 540-person body that will have the power to change the constitution. Government heavyweights such as Delcy Rodriguez are vying for a spot in the assembly. Rodriguez gave up the foreign ministry in the country to defend the socialist policies of her government, which she says are under attack from foreign right-wing elements.
An election for a constituent assembly was called by President Nicolas Maduro in the midst of popular protests expressing widespread anger at food shortages, a flailing economy and rampant crime. Some 100 people have been killed during demonstrations calling for early general elections to bring in a new government. But rather than heed protesters demands, Maduro and his political allies have extolled the election for a constituent body as the way forward for the country.
Candidates for the assembly are composed of seasoned politicians as well as other candidates from different cross sections of society. According to the government, 168 seats have been set aside for candidates to represent students, pensioners and farmers. But Venezuelan political analyst Oswaldo Ramirez told Reuters that many candidates who will make up the assembly will not have sufficient legislative experience to bring forth policies to resolve the country's pressing problems.
The breadth of candidates could also make it difficult for President Nicolas Maduro to strengthen his government's rule in the country, with diverging special-interest candidates campaigning on a variety of issues such as rights for African-Venezuelan citizens, a senior citizens consultation group for the government and greater indigenous recognition, to name a few.
Venezuela's opposition have refused to participate in the election for a constituent assembly, arguing that the body will be stacked with government supporters. Maduro's critics believe the constituent vote is a ploy at limited democracy because he does not enjoy enough popular support to carry his government through a general election.
A recent opinion poll by company Datanalisis reported that 85 percent of Venezuelans oppose President Nicolas Maduro's plans of a constituent assembly. It also put Maduro's approval rating at 21.9 percent. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
- Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2017. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
- Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
