Thursday September 28, 2023
  • Venezuela
  • Mexico
  • Colombia
  • Chile
  • Brazil
  • Argentina
  • Podcast
Versión Español
PanAm Post
  • Home
  • Regions
    • South America
    • North America
    • Central America
    • Caribbean
  • Politics
  • Economics
  • Opinion
  • Podcast
  • Authors
  • Contact
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Regions
    • South America
    • North America
    • Central America
    • Caribbean
  • Politics
  • Economics
  • Opinion
  • Podcast
  • Authors
  • Contact
No Result
View All Result
PanAm Post
No Result
View All Result

Home » Venezuela Needs the World’s Support, Now More than Ever

Venezuela Needs the World’s Support, Now More than Ever

María Teresa Romero by María Teresa Romero
January 7, 2016
in Columnists, Cronyism, Featured, Ideology, International Relations, Opinion, Politics, South America, Venezuela
FacebookTwitterTelegramWhatsapp
The opposition majority in Congress announced they would pass a law to release Venezuela's political prisoners. (HispanTv
The opposition majority in Congress announced plans to pass a law to release Venezuela’s political prisoners. (HispanTv)

EspañolPressure from the international community was not what got the new Venezuelan Congress successfully installed on January 5. However, it cannot be denied that it was crucial to ensure the relatively peaceful transition.

As Jesús Torrealba, the opposition coalition’s spokesman, put it: “The people’s civic duty, the army’s commitment, and the international community made [this] possible.”

RelatedArticles

The night Chris Rock turned into a 12-year-old whiny bully victim

The night Chris Rock turned into a 12-year-old whiny bully victim

March 26, 2023
The new socialist supremacisms: a maoist cultural revolution undermines the US

The new socialist supremacisms: a maoist cultural revolution undermines the US

August 21, 2021

Foreign leaders have finally reversed their apathy toward the Nicolás Maduro administration over the past months, particularly since the December 6 legislative elections. Pressure coming from several countries has kept the Chavista regime from trampling on even more democratic principles.

One day before the newly elected congressmen were sworn in, several European Union and Spanish lawmakers, as well as prominent Spanish politicians, penned a manifesto supporting Venezuelan democracy and denouncing the ruling party’s “coup attempt.”

In short, the previous Chavista majority illegally appointed 13 Supreme Court justices at the last minute, who in turn summarily issued a ruling to invalidate four elected congressmen, in a attempt to prevent the opposition from attaining an absolute majority in the new Congress.

A major demonstration of institutional support came from the US Justice Department: “We remain concerned by the controversy surrounding the seating of some elected representatives and call for a resolution of this dispute in manner that is transparent and reflects the preferences of the Venezuelan voters.”

Despite Maduro’s usual diatribe and accusations of imperialist interventionism, the public statement from the US government, which is currently investigating several Chavista officials for drug trafficking and money laundering, got the president to back off.

No less important were the press releases from the Costa Rican and Brazilian Foreign Affairs ministries. The latter, a longtime Chavista ally, was particularly harsh: “There is no place in South America in the 21st-century for political solutions outside institutions and the most absolute respect for democracy and the rule of law.”

As the Spanish daily El País pointed out: “The Brazilian wording is unequivocally a criticism of Chavismo‘s attempt to interrupt the seating of opposition congressmen via the judiciary, as well as other moves, such as the creation of a parallel Congress.”

[adrotate group=”8″]Nevertheless, the presence of several international actors, foreign congressmen, and journalists during the swearing in was decisive. They all witnessed — including former Colombian President Andrés Pastrana and the Mexican Senate’s president — how the Chavista factions insulted and aggressed against the elected opposition members. Pastrana even publicly urged President Maduro to respect the will of the people.

So far, the international community’s response and support of Venezuelan democracy has been significant and encouraging, even if we must note that this was not at all the case during the late President Hugo Chávez’s term. But from now on, they must press even harder, because with this new Congress, an irreversible transition toward democracy has begun. But it won’t be easy.

The new National Assembly speaker, Henry Ramos Allup, assured that the legislative branch will seek to lawfully oust President Maduro within the next six months.

Surely, the Chavista government won’t go down without a fight — even a violent one — by rallying the ministries, state offices, governorships, and mayoralties that it still controls. To this we can add a deepening socioeconomic and humanitarian crisis to an already explosive mix.

More than ever, Venezuela needs the world’s solidarity and support: from governments, parliaments, political parties, multilateral bodies, and NGOs, as well as from the free press. The circumstances inside and outside Venezuela have changed, and the international community, especially within Latin America, must be steadfast in the defense of cherished democratic values.

Translated by Daniel Duarte.

Tags: chavismoHenry Ramos Allupnicolás maduro
María Teresa Romero

María Teresa Romero

Romero is a journalist with a PhD in political science, specializing in international politics. She's a professor at the Central University of Venezuela, a columnist in several Venezuelan and international newspapers, and the author of several books.

Related Posts

The night Chris Rock turned into a 12-year-old whiny bully victim
Columnists

The night Chris Rock turned into a 12-year-old whiny bully victim

March 26, 2023
The new socialist supremacisms: a maoist cultural revolution undermines the US
Columnists

The new socialist supremacisms: a maoist cultural revolution undermines the US

August 21, 2021
GETTR: the powerful weapon of Trump and international right wing
United States

GETTR: the powerful weapon of Trump and international right wing

July 13, 2021
News

Maduro’s Trial Falls Behind Despite Coordination Between Interim Government and ICC

June 15, 2021
Three Signs That Elon Musk Has the World at His Fingertips
Columnists

Trump Against Suppression of Human Rights

February 1, 2021
Three Signs That Elon Musk Has the World at His Fingertips
News

15 Republicans Who Voted Against Trump Are Already Facing the Consequences

February 1, 2021
Next Post
‘Sicario’ Lays Bare the Drug War’s Ugly Truth

'Sicario' Lays Bare the Drug War's Ugly Truth

Subscribe free and never miss another breaking story

  • Venezuela
  • Mexico
  • Colombia
  • Chile
  • Brazil
  • Argentina
  • Podcast

© 2020 PanAm Post - Design & Develop by NEW DREAM GLOBAL CORP. - Privacy policy

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Regions
    • South America
    • North America
    • Central America
    • Caribbean
  • Politics
  • Economics
  • Opinion
  • Podcast
  • Authors
  • Contact

© 2020 PanAm Post - Design & Develop by NEW DREAM GLOBAL CORP. - Privacy policy

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. Privacy and Cookie Policy.