Uncertainty, worry dominate in crisis-stricken Venezuela after constituent assembly vote

Record ID: 904747

  • Title: Uncertainty, worry dominate in crisis-stricken Venezuela after constituent assembly vote
  • Date: 31st July 2017
  • Summary: CARACAS, VENEZUELA (JULY 31, 2017) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF PEOPLE IN THE STREET, WAITING FOR BUSES PEOPLE WALKING NEAR NEWSPAPER VENDOR NEWSPAPER HEADLINE READING (Spanish): "8,089,320 VOTED FOR PEACE" GENERAL VIEW OF NEWSPAPERS LAID OUT WITH HEADLINES RELATING TO CONSTITUENT ASSEMBLY VOTE NEWSPAPER HEADLINE READING: "MUD: 16 DEAD DURING ELECTION OF CHAVIST ANC" ("MUD" REFERS TO THE DEMOCRATIC UNITY ROUNDTABLE (THE OPPOSITION COALITION) AND "ANC" REFERS TO THE CONSTITUENT ASSEMBLY" (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) CARACAS RESIDENT, MARBELIS ALCALA, SAYING: "It seems to me the biggest fraud I've seen in my 46 years. It's inconceivable that yesterday the government had more votes than when Chavez (former President Hugo Chavez) and Maduro (President Nicolas Maduro) won and all the queues - particularly where I live in Guarenas and Guatire (Miranda state) - all the polling stations were deserted, there were no queues anywhere." PEOPLE BOARDING BUS GENERAL VIEW OF BUSES ON STREET (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) CARACAS RESIDENT, DEREK BARRERAS, SAYING: "It's all very uncertain because we have, on different sides, information that can't be verified. As an ordinary citizen has no way to verify it, either by the opposition or by the ruling party." PEOPLE WALKING ON SIDEWALK MAN READING NEWSPAPER RESIDENTS WALKING ON SIDEWALK (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) CARACAS RESIDENT, MARIA GABRIELA GERBASI, SAYING: "I think what we're living through is very dangerous. I believe we have entered a very steep road and my call is definitely for Venezuelans to remain united. We can't allow a dictatorship by Nicolas Maduro. There are no freedoms, no good economy, no good medicine, we are starving, we have no means of transportation." PEOPLE CLEANING UP STREET PEOPLE RIDING MOTORCYCLES ACROSS BLACKENED PART OF STREET WHERE BARRICADES HAD BURNED THE PREVIOUS DAY CARS PASSING OVER BLACKENED PART OF STREET WHERE BARRICADES HAD BURNED THE PREVIOUS DAY (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) CARACAS RESIDENT, JORGE BARRERA, SAYING: "The reality was different. What was reflected in the country does not agree with the numbers they gave, so only they (ruling party) believe it." POSTER AGAINST THE CONSTITUENT ASSEMBLY GENERAL VIEW OF POSTER ON LIGHT POLE AND PEOPLE WALKING ON SIDEWALK GRAFFITI READING: "WE ARE HUNGRY" GENERAL VIEW OF ALTAMIRA PLAZA
  • Embargoed: 14th August 2017 15:14
  • Keywords: Nicolas Maduro constituent assembly opposition reaction
  • Location: CARACAS, VENEZUELA
  • City: CARACAS, VENEZUELA
  • Country: Venezuela
  • Topics: Government/Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA0016S1SRPJ
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Venezuelan residents expressed worry and uncertainty on Monday (July 31) following the election of a new legislative superbody that is expected to give the ruling Socialist Party sweeping powers.
    At least 10 people were killed on Sunday (July 30) in protests against the unpopular President Nicolas Maduro, who insists the new body known as the constituent assembly will bring peace after four months of protests that have killed more than 120 people.
    Countries across the Americas, as well as the European Union, denounced the creation of the assembly, which will have the power to rewrite the constitution.
    The United States - the top market for the OPEC nation's oil - called the vote a sham, and officials in Washington said they were preparing oil-sector sanctions.
    As the vote dominated newspaper headlines, Caracas residents complained about "fraud." Another added information could not be verified by either side. Caracas resident, Maria Gabriela Gerbasi called for unity while living in "dangerous times."
    Opposition leaders call the election a naked power grab meant to keep the Socialist Party in office despite anger over an economic crisis that has spurred malnutrition and left citizens struggling to obtain basic consumer products.
    The country's elections authority said more than 8 million voters went to the polls on Sunday, while the opposition estimated only 2.5 million ballots were cast.
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