Versión Español
Spanish – After the consummation of electoral fraud on December 6, Chavismo took over the Venezuelan Parliament. However, there was a new change in the cards that are always used by Nicolás Maduro’s regime. This was evident with the position assumed on Tuesday by former Communications Minister and former Vice President Jorge Rodríguez as President of the Chavista Assembly.
Chavismo’s second in command, Diosdado Cabello, also had to propose the former Minister for the Penitentiary Service Iris Varela as vice-president of the National Assembly and Didalco Bolívar as second vice-president, who has been pointed out for allegedly being linked to several cases of corruption.
Cabello also reached a position in these typical Chavista castles, although the difference in the hierarchy is obvious. Considering the power held by whoever was once Chávez’s right hand, his appointment seems to be a mockery.
According to EFE, during a speech before the swearing-in of the National Assembly, Nicolás Maduro proposed Cabello as the leader of the so-called Great Patriotic Pole (GPP). He will be in charge of being the image of the pro-Chávez coalition in this Parliament installed, by all accounts, in a fraudulent manner, where the Venezuelan tyranny obtained 256 of the 277 legislators in a flawed election that has not been recognized by the international community.
The curious is obvious. The designation of Jorge Rodríguez to one of the most powerful positions in the country, under the trust placed in him by Nicolás Maduro, as well as the transfer of Diosdado Cabello to a partisan position, once again evidences a distancing from the military man, who was Hugo Chávez’s partner at the failed coup d’état on February 4, 1992.
Rodríguez has become a fundamental piece for Maduro. He was campaign manager for the GPP and has led Chavismo in the failed negotiations with the opposition. He is one of the leaders who has moved at will in any position assigned to him, from the Caracas Mayor’s Office to the Ministry of Communications.
Diosdado cornered?
The domains of Cabello have remained in the party area. He sticks to activism, and his territory is becoming more and more reduced. His power is limited to the political police of Sebín and Seniat, which is directed by his brother José David Cabello, says the journalist Sebastiana Barráez. At least, that’s what he projects. Today he is just another congressman.
This is not only shown by the installation that was made of this Parliament, which is so corrupt. It is something recurrent. The most palpable example -in its legislative facet- was in the election of the National Constituent Assembly (ANC) in July 2017.
In this event, it was expected that Cabello would take the reins of this institution to the measure of Chavismo. However, there was a different surprise. Maduro chose Delcy Rodríguez. The military man of Chávez’s promotion simply decided not to occupy any other position.
Notwithstanding, when the Constituent Assembly became a small spokesperson’s corner- lacking in recognition and legitimacy- without importance for Maduro, Cabello reached the presidency until it was dissolved in December without shame or glory. A dismal consolation prize.
Diosdado Cabello is not intimidated by these signs of power made by Maduro that relegate him more and more. He insists and will insist on fertilizing the ideological terrain and raising himself as one of the bastions of Chavismo. Whether through his networks, his speeches at party events, or simply from his weekly television program where he displays that typical verbiage that has fewer and fewer viewers. From his side and also from the other.
