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Caribbean-Latin America |
Venezuela: Supreme Court Dissolves Congress |
2017-03-31 |
Venezuela slid closer toward dictatorship after the country’s Supreme Court gutted the only opposition-run institution -- the Congress -- seizing its powers and declaring the elected body invalid. The court’s ruling late on Wednesday night was, in the words of lawmakers, nothing short of a coup. Several opposition leaders called for street demonstrations and other forms of "democratic resistance." As the once-wealthy oil power descends into a chaos of hunger and crime, however, it remained far from clear whether the increasingly despondent population will view the court’s move as a genuine turning point or just another step in the nation’s bottoming out toward hopelessness. "This is not only going to cause alarm for concern within the region, but also actions, and at this point, it will be very difficult for countries to remain neutral," said Carlos Romero, a political scientist at the Central University of Venezuela in Caracas. "The government is provoking; not only has it not made a single gesture toward dialog, it has become completely entrenched." Opposition deputies said they would appeal to international bodies for help. But that may yield little. Two days before the court’s ruling, the Organization of American States met to urge Venezuela to respect the congress that has now been neutered. The U.S. State Department condemned the Supreme Court’s decision on Thursday, saying the move "greatly damages Venezuela’s democratic institutions," according to a statement. Constitutional Crisis In Wednesday’s ruling, the Supreme Court’s Constitutional Chamber declared the National Assembly was operating "outside the rule of law" after long standing claims that the legislature was in contempt of previous legal statements. "The Constitutional Chamber shall ensure that the parliamentary powers are exercised directly by this Chamber or by the body it appoints to ensure the rule of law," the decision said. |
Posted by:Glineck Glavins5554 |
#8 When federal judges make decisions that imperil the country, you'd think the citizens might find their own way to remove those judges from the comfort of their chambers. |
Posted by: Crusader 2017-03-31 22:33 |
#7 Now just WHERE is Chief Justice Roberts? Sounds like something he would get behind..... |
Posted by: USN, Ret. 2017-03-31 17:08 |
#6 The Solution After the uprising of the 17th June The Secretary of the Writers Union Had leaflets distributed in the Stalinallee Stating that the people Had forfeited the confidence of the government And could win it back only By redoubled efforts. Would it not be easier In that case for the government To dissolve the people And elect another? -- Bertolt Brecht |
Posted by: SteveS 2017-03-31 13:23 |
#5 This just gave the left a bunch of new wet dreams in how to get rid of Trump. |
Posted by: DarthVader 2017-03-31 13:11 |
#4 With all the necklace-clutching and hand-wringing by the opposition, Maduro and buddies have nothing to worry about for a while. At least until the populace figures out that Chairman Mao was right when he said, "Power comes from the barrel of a gun!" Who knew he was a 2nd Amendment supporter? |
Posted by: AlmostAnonymous5839 2017-03-31 09:55 |
#3 AH #1 and I know where they can get a whole lot of replacements for that wayward electorate. We've got 65 million Hillary voters that should be eligible to replace VZ's 35 million people. Send the leftover 30 million to help out in Africa. |
Posted by: AlanC 2017-03-31 08:23 |
#2 it's effectively already a dictatorship with no rule of law. |
Posted by: Frank G 2017-03-31 00:25 |
#1 The next step would be to dissolve the Venezuelan electorate and select / appoint a new & improved version. |
Posted by: Anguper Hupomosing9418 2017-03-31 00:12 |