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A12 WORLD NEWS
Tuesday 4 July 2017

Venezuelan opposition sets symbolic vote on new constitution

Protests against Maduro leader Diosdado Cabello
have swept across Venezu- said last week on state TV.
ela the past three months, Maduro has vowed to
leaving at least 80 people present any new constitu-
dead and hundreds more tion for a ratification vote,
jailed or injured, and the but the opposition argues
opposition-controlled leg- that a referendum is re-
islature has embraced an quired just to call a con-
agenda of civil disobedi- stitutional assembly. Both
ence. times Chavez attempted
Polls show that barely 20 to rewrite the constitution,
percent of Venezuelans fa- in 1999 and 2007, he sought
vor rewriting the late Hugo a popular mandate before
Chavez’s 1999 constitution embarking on the process.
— about the same level Chief Prosecutor Luisa
of support for Maduro. The Ortega Diaz, an ideologi-
opposition coalition has cal admirer of Chavez who
decided to boycott the broke with Maduro, has
polling, arguing that rules also criticized the govern-
to choose delegates to the ment’s plans. Opposition
proposed assembly are un- lawmakers greeted her
democratic and heavily with enthusiastic applause
favor the government. Monday when she ap-
Once seated, the consti- peared at the chamber for
tutional assembly will have special assembly to reap-
vast powers to reshape point her deputy, who was
Venezuela’s institutions, removed last week by the
and some in the opposition government-stacked su-
Opposition leaders Henrique Capriles, left, and Maria Corina Machado talk after a meeting where fear it could convert Ven- preme court in apparent
the opposition decided to plan a symbolic referendum in Caracas, Venezuela, Monday, July 3, ezuela into a Cuba-styled violation of the constitution
2017. Venezuela’s opposition is seeking to hold a symbolic referendum on July 16 to give voters socialist system in which “My role as chief prosecu-
the opportunity to reject President Nicolas Maduro’s plans to rewrite the constitution.
(AP Photo/Fernando Llano) open elections would tor requires that I assume
cease to exist. the first line of defense of
But even with the threat of our republican state,” she
By JOSHUA GOODMAN The plan announced by polls to choose delegates low turnout hanging over said in a video address to
Associated Press National Assembly Presi- for a special assembly to the process, the govern- the nation on Monday.
CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) dent Julio Borges is a dra- overhaul the charter. ment seems determined to She said that “in the face
— Venezuela’s opposition matic escalation of the “We want the people to plow ahead. of the attacks and threats
said Monday it will hold a opposition’s effort to fight decide,” Borges told a “Even if only one, two or hanging over the country,’
symbolic referendum to Maduro’s proposal. Borges crowd of opposition lead- three Venezuelans vote, her agency is “perhaps
give voters the opportunity said that the vote would be ers gathered in eastern Ca- it’s still an election and the one of the few democratic
to reject President Nicolas held July 16 — two weeks racas. “Today we’re united opposition will be left there windows that are left open
Maduro’s plans to rewrite before Maduro is asking in a single bloc to defend squealing,” socialist party in the country” and said it
the constitution. Venezuelans to go to the our constitution.” “won’t be intimidated or
Police in Brazil arrest another ally of President Temer give up the rights and free-
doms of Venezuelans with-
out a fight.”
Associated Press another minister accused Movement Party. Prosecu- other counts: obstruction of Far from destroying Ven-
SAO PAULO (AP) — Police him of influence peddling. tors accuse Lima of paying justice and criminal orga- ezuela’s democracy,
in Brazil arrested a close ally He has been a close friend hush money. The former nization. Much of the evi- Maduro has argued that
of President Michel Temer of Temer’s for decades minister’s attorney did not dence has come through the constitutional rewrite
on Monday for obstruction and is implicated in a series respond to calls from The plea bargain deals. is the only way to guaran-
of justice for allegedly try- of corruption scandals. Associated Press seeking For Temer to be suspend- tee peace in the country,
ing to block plea bargain Federal prosecutors said comment. Temer is already ed, two thirds of Brazil’s whose sharp political po-
deals that could further in a statement that Lima at risk of being suspended 513-member Lower House larization has been aggra-
sink the country’s scandal- was trying to silence former from office if Brazil’s lower would have to agree to vated by severe economic
plagued administration. Lower House Speaker Edu- house authorizes a corrup- send the case to the coun- hardships.
Geddel Vieira Lima was a ardo Cunha and broker Lu- tion investigation against try’s Supreme Court. “It’s the solution to Venezu-
minister for legislative affairs cio Funaro, who worked as him. Brazil’s top prosecutor A vote on the case is ex- ela’s problems,” he said
until November, when he fundraisers for Temer’s cen- Rodrigo Janot is also investi- pected to happen until the Monday at an event in
was forced to resign after trist Brazilian Democratic gating the president on two end of July.q downtown Caracas. q