Versión Español
Spanish – The Chavista National Assembly -which took office on January 5- began to deploy its tricks against the parliament with an opposition majority. The measures were predictable, given the background of Chavismo.
“We cannot forget. Reconciliation, yes- but without amnesia. Forgiveness, yes- but without forgetting. Harmony, yes- but some crimes cannot be forgiven,” said Jorge Rodríguez when he took office as president of the Assembly of the regime.
The same line of the attack against private property that Iris Varela, the new vice president of Maduro’s National Assembly, intends to initiate includes the creation of a new commission to investigate “crimes” of opponents who were part of the Assembly in the period 2016-2021.
According to EFE, Chavismo alleges theft of state resources as if this did not exist within its ranks despite the investigations and sanctions imposed internationally against the indiscriminate theft of the country’s resources.
Varela herself requested “that the investigations be deepened,” which will extend for a month, and then issue arrest warrants through the Supreme Court of Justice (TSJ), which they control.
One more Chavista
The measure has more room for maneuver because the president of the commission will be none other than José Brito, a deputy who said he was in opposition and ended up playing in favor of the regime.
Brito was part of the opposition party Justice First and voted for Juan Guaidó as president of the National Assembly in the previous period. He was expelled because the opposition accused him of being involved in acts of corruption with the program Local Committee of Supply and Production (CLAP), directed by Nicolás Maduro.
The official ended up sheltering in a party called Primero Venezuela -a pseudo opposition party- to participate in the December 6 elections that accomplished the regime’s intentions to control the Assembly.
The president of this National Assembly, Jorge Rodríguez, appointed Brito to carry out the investigations against the opponents. According to Rodríguez, the appointment was made because they want to ensure that no approach “succumbs to the political interests” or particular interests of Chavismo, reported EFE.
Homophobic rhetoric
With violent and homophobic rhetoric, the deputy has not hesitated to lash out at those who ask him about his shady political record. Ironically, he is now in charge of reviewing how deputies in the Guaido-led Assembly manage their finances.
“But you’re a faggot, kid,” he told a reporter in recent days when the reporter asked him an uncomfortable question about his corrupt schemes.
Amid a rather indelible argument, the president of the new National Assembly commission said that his goal was to “shake up” those who ask “questions like that.”
He had no way to defend himself, only said that the country lacked “irreverence” and turned to sociology to justify his words.
He also had no qualms about continuing to shout those labels when other journalists showed him the rejection of his statements. Odell López Escote, a Venezuelan journalist, shared the message with the evidence.
.@JoseBritoVe me escribe por DM para insultarme por cuestionar sus declaraciones en las que llama homosexuales a los periodistas que le hacen preguntas no complacientes.
Lo repito, ser homosexual no es una ofensa.
Y los periodistas hacemos preguntas incómodas. Guste o no. pic.twitter.com/rs5z3pRKvS
— Odell López Escote (@OdeLopez) January 5, 2021
Institutions with no direction
It has been a few days since the Chavista Assembly took power, but the route is clear: trample until there are no more rivals on the road and power is absolute.
The country is divided into two assemblies that are backed by supposed popular support- very questionable in both cases- while Venezuelans watch with fatigue a bid without results.
Meanwhile, Juan Guaidó is steadily losing momentum. Before the end of the year, he approved the continuity of his interim, modifying the Transitional Statute that opened an even deeper crack within the bench.
Currently, Guaidó is recognized by at least 50 countries. Meanwhile, Chavismo is supported by cronyism with the regimes of Iran, Syria, Cuba, Nicaragua, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, China, and Bolivia, among others.
Chavismo will continue its operations, while Venezuela remains mired in a worrisome economic and institutional crisis.
