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WORLD NEWS Saturday 5 december 2020

Venezuela’s Maduro seeks to tighten his grip via election

By FABIOLA SÁNCHEZ and for his party’s congressional
SCOTT SMITH candidates — including his
Associated Press son and wife — promising
CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) to finally silence the right-
— With the political oppo- wing opposition, which he
nents of President Nicolás accuses of inciting violent
Maduro boycotting Sun- protests.
day’s election for the Na- Ahead of the election,
tional Assembly, his socialist state TV has broadcast
party is expected to domi- video of large campaign
nate the vote, giving him rallies with cheering crowds
control of the last major led by Maduro and his po-
institution in Venezuela out- litical allies, despite polls
side his grasp. showing he is widely un-
The opposition contends popular.
the election is rigged and “We’ve had to suffer under
has called its own refer- five years of horror, plots,
endum to counter it. Both conspiracies and failure,”
votes are playing out in the Maduro said. “Our people
waning days of the Trump are aware that it was a mis-
administration, which take to elect the opposi-
leaves office with Maduro tion.”
firmly entrenched despite International bodies like the
its efforts to bring about his Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro speaks to supporters during a closing campaign rally for European Union have re-
departure through diplo- the upcoming National Assembly elections in Caracas, Venezuela, Thursday, Dec. 3, 2020. fused to send observers to
macy and sanctions. Associated Press Sunday’s election, saying
By taking over the National against the South Ameri- Maduro, the hand-picked The Trump administration the conditions for a demo-
Assembly, some experts say can leader, and even re- successor to the late Presi- took the lead by hitting cratic process don’t exist.
Maduro’s United Socialist fine the strategy further, dent Hugo Chávez, won Maduro with punishing Guaidó’s once-high ap-
Party of Venezuela will ef- such as taking steps to work a second term in 2018. But sanctions, targeting the proval has fallen since
fectively smother the last more closely with European Washington and several state-run oil firm PDVSA and early last year as Venezu-
remnants of democracy in allies. nations accused him of fix- cutting him off from billions elans grow frustrated that
the country. Once an oil-producing ing the outcome by ban- of dollars annually. The U.S. the opposition hasn’t been
“Everything indicates that powerhouse, Venezuela ning his most popular op- Justice Department also able to topple Maduro and
he will achieve what he has been embroiled for ponents from challenging indicted Maduro as a “nar- restore stability.
has always sought, which is years in a deepening po- him. coterrorist,” offering a $15 Rejecting Sunday’s vote,
to have total, authoritarian, litical and economic crisis. Opposition leader Juan million reward for his arrest. the opposition will instead
hegemonic control of all More than 5 million people Guaidó, 37, rose to head But he remains in power hold a referendum asking
the country’s institutions,” have fled the country in the National Assembly in with backing from Venezu- Venezuelans a series of
said Michael Shifter, presi- recent years, the world’s early 2019, declaring presi- ela’s military and interna- questions to gauge support
dent of the Washington- largest migration after war- dential powers and vow- tional support from nations for ending Maduro’s rule,
based Inter-American Dia- torn Syria. The International ing to oust the 58-year-old like Iran, Russia, China and holding new elections and
logue. Monetary Fund projects Maduro. The dramatic Cuba. Maduro’s domestic seeking international help
He expects U.S. President- a 25% decline this year in move sparked massive allies also control the su- in solving Venezuela’s crisis.
elect Joe Biden, who has Venezuela’s GDP, while hy- street demonstrations preme court, prosecutor’s The referendum is being
not hesitated in calling perinflation diminishes the across Venezuela and won office and elections com- held over several days im-
Maduro a “dictator,” to value of its currency, the support from dozens of na- mission. mediately following the
maintain a tough position bolivar. tions. Maduro has campaigned congressional election.q

Erdogan says he hopes France gets rid of President Macron

ISTANBUL (AP) — Turkey’s Yellow Vest protest move- gan’s attack, and deflect-
president has renewed his ment against social injus- ing a question on the spat.
vitriolic attacks on French tice in the country. The French leader also told
President Emmanuel Ma- Erdogan also said France Brut, a news website, that
cron, saying he hopes has lost its credibility as an Erdogan was in the process
France will get rid of him intermediary of the Minsk of limiting the liberty of the
soon. Speaking after Friday group, which was created Turkish people.
prayers in Istanbul, Recep in the 1990s to encourage Relations have been tense
Tayyip Erdogan called Ma- peaceful resolution for the over a host of issues, includ-
cron “trouble” for France, conflict in Nagorno-Kara- ing what Erdogan charac-
which he said was experi- bakh. terizes as French Islamopo-
encing a dangerous time France has sided with Ar- hobia, energy disputes in
under his leadership. menia in that conflict, and the Eastern Mediterranean
“My wish is for France to get Turkey with Azerbaijan. and Libya.
rid of the Macron trouble as Erdogan’s comments At the time, French au-
soon as possible,” Erdogan come amid harsh rhetoric thorities denounced Turk-
said. from both leaders. ish “propaganda” against
Otherwise, Erdogan Macron tried to avoid fur- France and Paris recalled Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan walks inside the Hagia
claimed, France would not ther escalation Friday, call- its ambassador to Turkey for Sophia Mosque after Friday prayers, in Istanbul, Friday, Dec. 4,
2020.
be able to overcome the ing for “respect” after Erdo- consultations.q Associated Press