Venezuela’s opposition has suggested the U.S. ease economic sanctions on the country and some of its individuals, a potential policy shift aimed at bringing President Nicolas Maduro back to the negotiating table, according to National Assembly head Juan Guaido. The plan could be put in motion even before talks hopefully resume in Mexico, Guaido said, as the opposition pushes for “free and fair” elections as soon as possible as well as changes to Venezuela’s judicial system. The State Department did not respond to messages seeking comment. U.S. Ambassador to Venezuela James Story said on a January 6th webcast that they are “willing to lift, ease and change sanctions when there are negotiations that bring about changes to restore institutions and democracy in Venezuela.” He did not mention easing sanctions before negotiations take place. Story’s office did not immediately respond to a message seeking comment. Messages to Venezuelan government leaders about the resumption of talks went unanswered. Talks between the government and the opposition broke down last year when Colombian businessman Alex Saab, a top ally of Maduro, was extradited to the U.S. from Cape Verde to face money laundering charges. Earlier this month, the Venezuelan president signaled he could return to the negotiating table if “positive actions” to restore dialogue in Mexico were taken.
Also last week, Venezuela’s National Electoral Council said Thursday that an opposition petition drive seeking to force a recall referendum against President Nicolás Maduro fell far short of the signatures needed, a result that had been expected because authorities allowed only a 12-hour period for the effort. The council said only 42,421 signatures were collected Wednesday, while 4.2 million were needed. As a result, “The National Council declares inadmissible the request for a referendum revoking the mandate of the president,” the council's director, Tania D’Amelio, said in statements broadcast on state television. Venezuela’s constitution allows voters to petition for a recall election once a president has served half of his term, as has Maduro, whose second six-year term ends in 2024. Twenty percent of voters in each state must sign such a petition to force a recall vote. But the electoral council, which has a 3-2 majority favorable to the government, ruled the nearly 4.2 million signatures needed would have to be collected within a 12-hour period at 1,200 electoral centers across the country. That would have required people to be signing every 12 seconds or so at each of the centers for the full 12 hours.
Last but not least, the National Assembly unanimously approved last Tuesday in an ordinary session the Draft Agreement in support of the actions undertaken before the Public Ministry to establish the alleged responsibilities of the former deputy Juan Guaidó against the people of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela. Guaido also called for his supporters to take to the streets next month as he plans to unseat President Nicolas Maduro in the 2024 election. He said that peaceful protests would take place across the country in a bid to oust Mr. Maduro. |
Keine Kommentare:
Kommentar veröffentlichen