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  1. #1
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    What is happening in Venezuela: the story so far in brief

    Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro's determination to hold a vote Sunday to elect a new body, a "Constituent Assembly" tasked with reforming the constitution, has triggered deadly protests and international criticism.



    What is the new body? Why does Maduro want it? And why is the opposition so angry?

    What is it?

    The Constituent Assembly will comprise 545 elected representatives, 364 of whom will come from municipal circumscriptions (one from each, except state capitals which will get two, and Caracas, which will get seven).

    That could favour rural areas, where Maduro has greater support.

    The other 181 members will be drawn from unions, another source of Maduro support, civil and social groups, business groups, and indigenous communities.

    The assembly is to be tasked with amending the constitution passed under Maduro's late predecessor and mentor, Hugo Chavez.

    But it will also have the power to change laws and dissolve the legislature, the National Assembly, which is controlled by the opposition.

    Maduro has promised the new constitution would be put to Venezuelans for their approval in a referendum.

    Why does Maduro want it?

    Maduro says the assembly will give power to the people to help Venezuela survive what he says is a US-backed right-wing "coup" plot to topple his socialist government.

    "We need a power that is above the other powers that are sabotaging the country's development," Maduro said.

    But he has not explained what should be changed from the current constitution, nor what specific reforms would put an end to Venezuela's political and economic crisis.

    His opponents suspect the move is aimed at strengthening his hold on power by filling the assembly with his supporters.

    Among the candidates wanting to sit on the new assembly is Maduro's wife, Cilia Flores.

    Why is there opposition?


    Most Venezuelans don't want a Constituent Assembly. According to Datanalisis, a polling firm, 70 percent are against the idea.

    On July 16, a third of the 20-million-strong electorate came out in an opposition-held unofficial referendum to vote against Sunday's election of the body.

    The opposition coalition, the Democratic Unity Roundtable, has called a boycott of the ballot. But that means Maduro's supporters will be the only ones voting - and possibly more than once, according to an analysis by an expert, Eugenio Martinez.

    Critics say the process around the assembly and a new constitution would delay overdue regional and local polls, and perhaps even the presidential election set for late 2018 -- which the widely unpopular Maduro would be sure to lose.

    The United States and other international powers have urged Maduro to drop his plan and respect the electoral calendar.

    http://www.newindianexpress.com/

  2. #2
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    Certainly the biggest news story today. Let's wait and see what happens. Will people let their country slip into a dictatorship or will they fight back for democracy? It will be an interesting day in Venezuela. Let's pray it's not too bloody.

  3. #3
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    Let's hope the people rise up against the corrupt government and it's mismanagement of the economy. Venezuela used to be a rich country, but now it's people are forced to eat from the trash like dogs.

    No, hay comida! (There's no food!)


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    Quote Originally Posted by Wilsonandson
    Will people let their country slip into a dictatorship or will they fight back for democracy?
    There are surely friends who are always concerned about a dictator in a country.

    BTW, does Venezuela possess some oil sources? (it could help...)

  5. #5
    Thailand Expat CaptainNemo's Avatar
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  6. #6
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    Time for an American intervention and prolonged occupation.

  7. #7
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    Quote Originally Posted by Klondyke View Post
    Quote Originally Posted by Wilsonandson
    Will people let their country slip into a dictatorship or will they fight back for democracy?
    There are surely friends who are always concerned about a dictator in a country.

    BTW, does Venezuela possess some oil sources? (it could help...)
    Huge oil sources the largest on the planet if my memory serves me correctly.

    Problem is it's very very heavy often needing steam pumped into it to soften it to be able to be pumped. (Expensive.)

    Also very high sulphur content, plus five percent I believe which makes it difficult and even more expensive to refine.

    With oil at $50 a barrel no one wants the crap.

  8. #8
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    Published on Jul 30, 2017
    Protests led to violence as Venezuelans went to the polls to vote on President Nicolas Maduro's plans to create a Constituent Assembly which will have the power to draft a new constitution, Sunday.

    Despite a police presence and a ban on protesting, fireworks were set off in the streets of the nation's capital, Caracas, as demonstrators sought to defy the government's orders and disrupt the vote.

    Venezuelans are casting their ballots to elect a 545-seat Constituent Assembly.
    Last edited by Wilsonandson; 31-07-2017 at 12:27 AM.

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    Around 10,000 people took to the streets of Chisinau, Sunday, to protest against the government’s decision to reform the country’s electoral system.

    Demonstrators gathered outside the parliament, carrying Moldovan and EU flags while chanting slogans against the reform.

    Moldova's pro-EU Democratic Party (PDM), under Prime Minister Pavel Filip, proposed the bill for the country to move from a proportional electoral system to a mixed system ahead of next year's parliamentary elections. The lawmakers approved the measure on July 27. Opponents of the bill say that the new system will favour larger instead of smaller parties.

  10. #10
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    Police officers injured in Venezuela after explosion at protest - witness

    CARACAS, July 30 (Reuters) - A number of police officers were injured in Venezuela's capital Caracas after an explosion during an anti-government protest decrying a vote for a constituent assembly on Sunday, according to a Reuters witness.

    Further details were not immediately available. (Reporting by Jaczo Gomez; Writing by Alexandra Ulmer; Editing by Mary Milliken)
    Last edited by Wilsonandson; 31-07-2017 at 12:44 AM.

  11. #11
    Thailand Expat CaptainNemo's Avatar
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    Venezuelan exports shooting up though brah...

  12. #12
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    ^^
    That Veronica is a girl Punty should aim for,she can even drive him around.
    Great arse as well.

  13. #13
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    Venezuela's government arrested two opposition leaders in the middle of the night, Antonio Ledezma and Leopoldo Lopez. Both men oppose Nicolas Maduro's increasingly authoritarian government and have been under house arrest for months. In the video, Ledezma is seen being led outside by authorities. He was arrested after midnight and can be seen wearing pajamas.



  14. #14
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    Another American induced Banana Republic dictatorship.

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