Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro declared the Christmas season would be moved up to October as he tries to turn people’s attention away from the contested presidential election that has roiled the country.
He declared that he would issue a decree to move Christmas to October 1.
In his weekly television show on September 2, President Maduro said „It’s September, and it already smells like Christmas.”
„That’s why this year, as a way of paying tribute to you all, and in gratitude to you all, I’m going to decree an early Christmas for October 1.”
Nicolas Maduro’s decision is seen as a move to distract people from the turmoil that has engulfed Venezuela following July’s contested presidential election.
Christmas is big in Catholic-majority Venezuela and people were not happy at the idea of celebrating a holiday season amid turmoil in the country.
Image source Wikipedia
This is not the first time Nicolas Maduro, 61, has moved up Christmas to an earlier date. He also did so during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Opposition parties continue to protest the electoral outcome of July’s election saying that Nicolas Maduro is illegally clinging on to power.
They accuse him of widespread cronyism and corruption which has brought Venezuela’s economy to its knees.
A widespread crackdown on opposition has fueled more concerns about the state of the country.
More than 2,400 have been imprisoned so far, according to news agency AFP, with journalists, politicians and aid workers among those jailed.
The US, EU and several Latin American countries say the results are fraudulent and that opposition presidential candidate Edmundo Gonzalez is the real winner.
One of the protesters, who shouted
at Juan Guaidó and threw a liquid at him, was wearing the uniform of the
state-owned airline Conviasa, which has been directly hit by US sanctions.
There were also scuffles between the
protesters and supporters of Juan Guaidó, who had gone to the airport to
welcome him.
Lawmakers loyal to Juan Guaidó had
to walk to the airport after the bus they were traveling in was stopped by
police.
Journalists reported being attacked
and having their kit stolen by those who had turned out to boo Juan Guaidó.
His office later said that a
relative who was travelling with him had been held by airport officials, and
had not been seen since.
Meanwhile, without directly naming Juan Guaidó, President Maduro told his
supporters to focus on “defending Venezuela”.
He said at a ceremony that was broadcast on state television: “Let’s not get distracted by
stupidities, by dummies, by traitors to the homeland.”
Nicolas Maduro’s second-in-command Diosdado Cabello also denounced Juan
Guaidó’s three-week tour as a “tourism trip”, and said he did not
expect anything to change after his return.
“He is nothing,”
Diosdado Cabello added.
President Maduro and his officials have threatened Juan Guaidó in the past,
but these threats have, so far, not led to him being harmed or detained.
Despite this being the second time he defied a court-imposed travel ban,
Juan Guaidó was not arrested.
After landing, Juan Guaidó addressed a rally of about 500 people in Caracas,
where he called for renewed protests against the president.
During Juan Guaidó’s visit to the US, President Trump promised to “smash” Nicolas Maduro’s government.
In a chaotic scene, Venezuela’s opposition leader Juan Guaidó has forced his way into the National Assembly (the country’s parliament) building after being stopped by troops. The incident occurred as his rival for the position of parliamentary speaker held a session inside.
Juan Guaido, who was re-elected on January 5 to a second one-year term as head of the opposition-held congress, had pledged to preside over January 7 opening session after security forces blocked him from the building over the weekend to allow allies of President Nicolas Maduro to swear in their own speaker, Luis Parra.
On January 5, security forces blocked him to enter the parliament. He tried
again to break through a cordon on January 7. He and his supporters managed to
push through the riot police. Their arrival prompted pro-government lawmakers
to leave.
Juan Guaidó went on sit down in the Speaker’s chair. He and his supporters
sang the national anthem before he was sworn in as Speaker during a power cut
which forced people to use phone lights.
Venezuela’s President Nicolás Maduro revealed
he had been in talks with the Trump administration for months, even as the US
ramped up its sanctions.
The US is one of more than 50 nations which do not recognize Nicolás Maduro
as Venezuela’s legitimate leader.
On August 20, President Maduro said that talks with the Trump administration
had been going on for months.
However, US National Security Adviser John Bolton said the only thing being
discussed was Nicolás Maduro’s departure.
Speaking on TV, President Maduro said: “Just
as I have sought dialogue in Venezuela, I have sought a way in which President
Trump really listens to Venezuela.”
President Donald Trump confirmed on August 20 that his administration was
“talking to various representatives of Venezuela”.
He said: “I don’t want to say
who, but we are talking at a very high level.”
President Maduro had suggested that he authorized the back-channel
discussions.
However, John Bolton cast those contacts in a very different light, tweeting:
“As the President has repeatedly stated,
to end the pilfering of the Venezuelan people’s resources and continued
repression, Maduro must go. The only items discussed by those who are reaching
out behind Maduro’s back are his departure and free and fair elections.”
John Bolton said President Trump’s
aim was to “to end the pilfering of the Venezuelan people’s resources and
continued repression” and that to that end, President Maduro “must
go”.
The US imposed sweeping sanctions
earlier this month aimed at increasing pressure on President Maduro to step
down.
Venezuela has been caught up in a
struggle for power between President Maduro and the leader of the country’s
National Assembly, Juan Guaidó.
Juan Guaidó declared himself interim
president in January, claiming that the elections which brought Nicolás Maduro to power for a second term were fraudulent.
While Juan Guaidó has gained the
backing of over 50 countries he has so far failed to remove Nicolás Maduro from power.
Talks between the two sides hosted
by Barbados and mediated by Norway recently stalled after President Maduro
denounced the opposition for backing the sweeping sanctions imposed by the US.
According to the UN, Venezuela is
suffering one of the worst economic crises in history with a quarter of its 30
million population in need of aid.
More than four million Venezuelans
have left the country over the past years.
Nicolás Maduro’s government has come under
fire by the international community for a number of reasons.
When opposition parties gained a
majority in Venezuela’s National Assembly, the president created a rival body
stacked with his supporters which assumed many of its powers. His 2018
re-election was controversial, and labeled as rigged by his critics, after many
rivals were barred from running or fled the country.
Protests and demonstrations erupted
into violence and were met with a crackdown by authorities which saw civilians
killed.
The US has been a frequent target of
Nicolás Maduro’s anger.
President Maduro has accused the US,
and John Bolton in particular, of trying to kill him, without supplying any
evidence. He claims that his opposition is backed by foreign powers, rather
than a domestic resistance to his authority.
Government officials were the first
target of US sanctions against Nicolás
Maduro’s government – but earlier this year, it brought new restrictions
forward on the state oil company, which is a major player in the national
economy.
That was followed in August by sweeping sanctions that froze all property of the government in the US, and blocks American companies doing business with Venezuela.
A massive power cut has plunged Venezuela into
darkness, with the capital Caracas among the areas affected.
It is believed at least 18 of Venezuela’s 23 states have lost power.
Information Minister Jorge Rodrigues claimed the power cut was caused by an
“electromagnetic attack” and officials were working to restore power.
Earlier this year, Venezuela was hit by a series of power cuts, including
one that affected all 23 states and lasted a week, leading to shortages and
riots.
Another outage in April plunged large swathes of the country into darkness;
however, that lasted hours rather than days.
Sporadic blackouts are common in
Venezuela, where the economy has collapsed amid a political crisis.
President Nicolás Maduro and other
state officials have in the past blamed “terrorism” and opposition
sabotage, often alleging US involvement.
The opposition has said the power
cuts are the result of years of corruption and underinvestment.
Venezuela’s state-owned power
company Corpolec earlier reported that a breakdown had only affected parts of
Caracas.
Opposition leader Juan Guaidó and President Nicolás Maduro have been at
loggerheads since January, when the former invoked the constitution and
declared himself interim president.
Juan Guaidó argued that the elections which had returned Nicolás Maduro to
power for a second term in 2018 had not been free and fair.
Since then, more than 50 countries, including the US and most nations in Latin
America, have recognized Juan Guaidó as Venezuela’s legitimate leader.
However, Venezuela’s military – a powerful force in the country – and
influential allies such as China and Russia have stuck by Nicolás Maduro.
An attempt by Juan Guaidó to get the military to switch allegiance to
him failed, and Venezuela remains in limbo with both men claiming to be the
legitimate president.
Meanwhile, a severe economic crisis has exacerbated and shortages of food
and medicines have grown even more acute.
According to UN figures, 4 million people have fled Venezuela since 2015.
The government blames the shortages on US sanctions but the opposition says
they are down to years of mismanagement.
Preliminary talks between Juan Guaidó and Nicolás Maduro were held in Oslo
in May, but they petered out without an agreement.
However, they resumed earlier this month, with the Norwegian foreign ministry again acting as a mediator.
Members of the Venezuelan government
say they are putting down a small coup attempt after opposition leader Juan
Guaido announced he was in the “final phase” of ending President
Nicolas Maduro’s rule.
He appeared in a video with
uniformed men, saying he had military support.
Juan Guaido, who declared himself
interim president in January, called for more members of the military to help
him end Nicolas Maduro’s “usurpation” of power.
However, military leaders appeared
to be standing behind Nicolas Maduro.
Venezuela’s defense minister
appeared on TV to stress the point. However, pictures from Caracas show some
soldiers aligning themselves with Juan Guaido’s supporters.
Nicolas Maduro’s detractors hope the
military will change its allegiance as resentment grows following years of
hyperinflation, power cuts, food and medicine shortages.
So far, the armed forces have stood
by President Maduro – despite dozens of countries, including the UK, the US and
most of Latin America, recognizing Juan Guaido as Venezuela’s rightful leader.
As a result, John Bolton, the US
national security adviser, said what was taking place in Venezuela was not a
coup, but a legitimate leader trying to take control.
Protesters supporting both sides
have gathered at different points in the capital, Caracas.
There are running clashes between
Juan Guaido’s supporters and armed military vehicles. Protesters were also seen
throwing rocks, but being repelled by tear gas and water cannon.
TV cameras also caught the moment
armored vehicles drove into a crowd but it is unclear if there were any
injuries.
According to El Universal newspaper, at least 37 people had been injured across
Caracas.
Meanwhile, Venezuelan Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino said the uprising by
some members of the military had been “partly defeated”, but warned
of possible bloodshed.
He warned: “The weapons of the
republic are here to defend the nation’s sovereignty and independence.”
Vladimir Padrino also revealed one soldier had suffered a bullet wound.
A three-minute video by Juan Guaido was published on April 30. In the video,
he announced he had the support of “brave soldiers” in Caracas.
“The National Armed Forces have
taken the correct decision… they are guaranteed to be on the right side of
history,” he said.
Juan Guaido was filmed alongside
another opposition leader, Leopoldo Lopez, who has been under house arrest
since being found guilty of inciting violence during anti-government protests
in 2014.
Leopoldo Lopez, who leads the
Popular Will party of which Juan Guaido is a member, said he had been freed by
members of the military.
He went on to urge Venezuelans to
join them on the streets.
Meanwhile, Chile’s Ministry of
Foreign Affairs revealed he, his wife Lilian Tintori and their daughter had
entered Chile’s embassy in Caracas to seek protection.
Juan Guaido, the president of the
opposition-controlled National Assembly, has been calling on the military to
back him ever since he declared himself interim president.
He argues that President Nicolas Maduro is a “usurper” because he
was re-elected in polls that had been widely disputed.
The video appeared to have been recorded at dawn in or near La Carlota air force base in Caracas.
Venezuelan troops fired tear gas and rubber bullets at protesters who
attempted to collect a foreign aid at the border, as President Nicolás Maduro
blocked the humanitarian transport from crossing from Colombia and Brazil.
On February 23, a number of people were shot with live ammunition, human
rights groups say. At least two people were killed.
The opposition wants the aid to go to people hit by the economic crisis, but
President Maduro sees it as a security threat.
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo condemned the attacks on civilians, which he
blamed on “Maduro’s thugs”.
He said in a tweet following the clashes: “Our deepest sympathies to the families of those who have died due
to these criminal acts. We join their demand for justice.”
Mike Pompeo also described the burning of some of the aid as
“sickening”.
Venezuela’s opposition leader Juan
Guaidó, who has declared himself interim president and helped to organize the
aid, condemned the action by security forces.
Juan Guaidó, who has been recognized
as leader by dozens of nations, will meet Vice President Mike Pence on February
25 in Bogota, Colombia.
Mike Pence is travelling there to
meet leaders of the regional Lima Group, in spite of a travel ban imposed on
him by President Maduro’s government.
On February 23, Juan Guaidó posted a
tweet which implored the international community to be “open to all
options” in order to “liberate” Venezuela from Nicolas Maduro –
who is continuing to resist all calls to stand down.
Juan Guaidó organized the collection
of hundreds of tonnes of foreign aid at the country’s borders. He gave the
government a deadline of Saturday to allow the aid to be brought into Venezuela
or vowed to have volunteers march it in themselves.
In response, President Maduro partly
closed the country’s borders with Brazil and Colombia, citing threats to security
and sovereignty. On February 23, Venezuelans civilians attempted to cross in
order to get to the aid stores, which included food and medicine.
Images from crossing points across
Venezuela showed security forces firing tear gas at volunteers. Protesters
burned outposts and threw projectiles at soldiers and riot police.
Rights groups say at least two
people, including a 14-year-old boy, were shot dead in the clashes in Santa
Elena de Uairen, near the country’s border with Brazil. Another two were reported
to have been killed on February 22.
Amnesty International has described
the use of firearms against protesters as a serious human rights violation and
a crime under international law.
There have also been reports of
several aid trucks being burned – something Juan Guaidó said was a violation of
the Geneva Convention.
At about 19:00 local time on February 23, Colombia’s government estimated the number injured at border crossings to be about 300. Journalists at the scene have reported severe injuries among protesters, including several who appeared to have lost their eyes.
Venezuelan troops fired tear gas and rubber bullets at protesters who
attempted to collect a foreign aid at the border, as President Nicolás Maduro
blocked the humanitarian transport from crossing from Colombia and Brazil.
On February 23, a number of people were shot with live ammunition, human
rights groups say. At least two people were killed.
The opposition wants the aid to go to people hit by the economic crisis, but
President Maduro sees it as a security threat.
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo condemned the attacks on civilians, which he
blamed on “Maduro’s thugs”.
He said in a tweet following the clashes: “Our deepest sympathies to the families of those who have died due
to these criminal acts. We join their demand for justice.”
Mike Pompeo also described the burning of some of the aid as
“sickening”.
Venezuela’s opposition leader Juan
Guaidó, who has declared himself interim president and helped to organize the
aid, condemned the action by security forces.
Juan Guaidó, who has been recognized
as leader by dozens of nations, will meet Vice President Mike Pence on February
25 in Bogota, Colombia.
Mike Pence is travelling there to
meet leaders of the regional Lima Group, in spite of a travel ban imposed on
him by President Maduro’s government.
On February 23, Juan Guaidó posted a
tweet which implored the international community to be “open to all
options” in order to “liberate” Venezuela from Nicolas Maduro –
who is continuing to resist all calls to stand down.
Juan Guaidó organized the collection
of hundreds of tonnes of foreign aid at the country’s borders. He gave the
government a deadline of Saturday to allow the aid to be brought into Venezuela
or vowed to have volunteers march it in themselves.
In response, President Maduro partly
closed the country’s borders with Brazil and Colombia, citing threats to security
and sovereignty. On February 23, Venezuelans civilians attempted to cross in
order to get to the aid stores, which included food and medicine.
Images from crossing points across
Venezuela showed security forces firing tear gas at volunteers. Protesters
burned outposts and threw projectiles at soldiers and riot police.
Rights groups say at least two
people, including a 14-year-old boy, were shot dead in the clashes in Santa
Elena de Uairen, near the country’s border with Brazil. Another two were reported
to have been killed on February 22.
Amnesty International has described
the use of firearms against protesters as a serious human rights violation and
a crime under international law.
There have also been reports of
several aid trucks being burned – something Juan Guaidó said was a violation of
the Geneva Convention.
At about 19:00 local time on February 23, Colombia’s government estimated the number injured at border crossings to be about 300. Journalists at the scene have reported severe injuries among protesters, including several who appeared to have lost their eyes.
Moscow has condemned foreign powers
for backing Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaidó who declared himself
interim president, calling it a bid to “usurp power”.
Russia said that the move violated
international law and was a “direct path to bloodshed”.
On January 23, Juan Guaidó declared
himself interim leader – a move recognized by the US and several other nations.
Meanwhile, President Nicolás Maduro,
who retains some other nations’ support, broke off relations with the US in
response.
Nicolas Maduro has been in office
since 2013. He was sworn in for a second term earlier this month, after winning
a May 2018 election marred by an opposition boycott and widespread claims of
vote-rigging.
President Nicolas Maduro’s Istanbul Lunch Sparks Outrage in VenezuelaJuan Guaidó is the head of the National Assembly, who has said articles within Venezuela’s constitution allow him to assume interim power because he believes Nicolas Maduro’s election, and therefore presidency, is invalid.
The opposition leader has vowed to
lead a transitional government and hold free elections.
President Donald Trump recognized
Juan Guaidó as Venezuela’s new head of state minutes after his declaration in
the capital, Caracas, on January 23.
President Trump urged other nations
to follow suit – but the move has divided much of the international community.
Seven South American nations, as
well as Canada and the UK, have now backed President Trump’s call.
The EU has stopped short of
recognition, but called for “free and credible elections” and said
Juan Guaidó’s freedom and safety should be respected.
Mexico, Bolivia and Cuba all expressed support for Nicolas Maduro, while
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan tweeted: “My brother Maduro! Stand tall, we are standing by you.”
China, a major investor in Venezuela, said it opposed any outside
interference.
Russia sees Venezuela as one of its closest allies in the region. It has
lent billions of dollars and has backed its oil industry and its military.
Russia has also taken part in military exercises in Venezuela.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said: “We
consider the attempt to usurp sovereign authority in Venezuela to contradict
and violate the basis and principles of international law.
“Maduro is the legitimate head of
state.”
A Russian foreign ministry statement said Juan Guaidó’s declaration was a
“direct path to lawlessness and bloodshed”, adding: “Only Venezuelans have the right to
determine their future.
“Destructive outside
interference, especially in the current extremely tense situation, is
unacceptable.”
Russia also warned that any US military interference would amount to “adventurism which is fraught with catastrophic consequences”.
Venezuela’s President Nicolás Maduro sparked outrage in his crisis-hit country after he was filmed eating in an upscale steak restaurant in Istanbul, Turkey.
The video shows Turkish celebrity chef Nusret Gokce, also known as “Salt Bae” carving meat in front of President Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, at Gokce’s Nusr-Et restaurant in Istanbul.
Almost two-thirds of Venezuelans have reported losing weight as shortages of food worsened in recent years.
Chef Nusret Gokce posted three videos of Nicolas Maduro’s visit on Instagram, but has since deleted them.
The chef, who has been dubbed Salt Bae for his stylized way of sprinkling salt on his meat, is seen carving meat in front of the couple with dramatic flair.
President Maduro can be heard saying: “This is a once in a lifetime moment.”
Other videos show President Maduro smoking a cigar taken from a box with his name engraved on a plaque, and his wife holding up a T-shirt with the chef’s image.
Nusret Gokce owns several luxurious restaurants in the US, the Middle East and Turkey, and videos of him carving meat have been watched by millions of people.
The chef’s restaurants sell some cuts of meat for several hundred dollars.
Nicolas Maduro and his wife were in Istanbul on a stop-over from China, where the president was trying to drum up investment.
The videos were shared widely by critics of Nicolas Maduro.
Opposition leader Julio Borges, who is living outside Venezuela for fear of arrest, tweeted: “While Venezuelans suffer and die of hunger, Nicolás Maduro and Cilia Flores have a good time in one of the most expensive restaurants in the world, all with money stolen from the Venezuelan people.”
In Venezuela, 64% of people have reported losing significant amounts of weight, 24lbs on average, amid worsening food shortages.
Child malnutrition is at record levels and 2.3 million people have left Venezuela since 2014.
Nicolas Maduro spoke about the now-controversial lunch during a TV news conference, confirming that he had eaten there during his stopover from China.
He said: “Nusret attended to us personally. We were chatting, having a good time with him.”
President Maduro also said that chef Nusret Gokce had told him that “he loves Venezuela”. The chef has not commented.
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has said the country’s subsidized fuel prices should rise, to stop smugglers cheating the country out of billions of dollars.
He said in a TV address: “Gasoline must be sold at an international price to stop smuggling to Colombia and the Caribbean.”
Like many oil producing nations, Venezuela offers its citizens heavily subsidized petrol.
A fuel price rise in 1989 caused deadly riots in Caracas.
The country’s economy is in freefall, with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) predicting inflation rates will reach a million percent this year – but the price of fuel has barely changed.
The price of a liter of petrol in Venezuela currently stands at 1 bolivar. On the black market, Venezuelans pay more than 4 million bolivares for one US dollar.
That means that for the equivalent of one dollar, Venezuelans can fill the tank of a medium-sized car about 720 times.
Smuggling the subsidized fuel from Venezuela into neighboring countries, where prices are much higher, is big business.
According to government figures, Venezuela loses $18 billion to fuel smuggling annually. President Maduro says adapting Venezuelan fuel prices to international levels will stamp out smuggling.
The move is part of a wider plan to increase government revenue in the face of falling oil production, the country’s main export income.
According to President Maduro “only those individuals who don’t answer the call to register will have to pay fuel at international prices”.
He said that all Venezuelans who hold the “Fatherland ID”, a government-issued identity card introduced by his administration in 2017, will continue to receive “direct subsidies” for “about two years”.
However, many Venezuelans opposed to Bicolas Maduro’s government have refused to get the ID cards, alleging they are used by officials to keep tabs on them.
President Maduro introduced the new ID card in January 2017 arguing it would serve to make his socialist government’s social programs more effective.
The price rise is therefore expected to hit opponents of President Maduro in greater numbers than those who support him.
Nicolas Maduro said he would announce further details of how the new subsidies scheme would work in the coming days. It is expected to come into effect on August 20.
Nicolas Maduro has won another six-year term as Venezuela’s president, in a vote marred by an opposition boycott and claims of vote-rigging.
Just 46% of the electorate turned out to vote amid food shortages stemming from a severe economic crisis.
The main opposition candidate, Henri Falcón, rejected the result soon after the polls closed.
He said: “We do not recognize this electoral process as valid… we have to have new elections in Venezuela.”
With more than 90% of the votes counted, Nicolas Maduro, 55, had 67.7% – 5.8 million votes – National Electoral Council chief Tibisay Lucena announced. Henri Falcón won 21.2% – 1.8 million votes – she said.
Nicolas Maduro told cheering supporters outside his presidential palace in Caracas, as fireworks went off and confetti was fired in the air: “They underestimated me.”
Henri Falcón has alleged that the vote was rigged in Nicolas Maduro’s favor, by abuse of the scanning of state-issued benefits cards used for accessing food.
According to government officials, the polls were “free and fair” but most of the opposition joined a boycott against the poll.
The Trump administration said it would not recognize the result. Tweeting ahead of the vote, the US mission to the UN called the process an “insult to democracy”.
Venezuela’s presidential elections were supposed to be held in December 2018, but the National Constituent Assembly, made up exclusively of Nicolas Maduro’s supporters, brought them forward.
The opposition Democratic Unity coalition said the elections were moved to take advantage of divisions within the coalition. Its two biggest candidates were also barred from running, and others have fled the country.
There were a handful of minor candidates but only Henri Falcón, a governor under the late President Hugo Chávez, was seen as a viable alternative to Nicolas Maduro. Henri Falcon came from the same socialist party as President Maduro, but left in 2010 to join the opposition.
Henri Falcón, who ran despite the boycott, has said he believes the majority of Venezuelans want to remove Nicolas Maduro from office.
The rest of the opposition, however, has frowned on his breaking ranks – with some even branding him a traitor.
Venezuela’s Constituent Assembly has ordered fresh presidential elections before the end of April.
President Nicolas Maduro told thousands of his supporters at a rally that he is ready to seek another six-year term.
He said: “It’s the right decision. Imperialism and the right were plotting to take over the economy.”
The opposition is weakened and divided and many of Nicolas Maduro’s main potential challengers are in self-imposed exile or in jail.
However, former presidential candidate Henrique Capriles said the government was so unpopular that it could lose the vote.
He tweeted, urging the opposition to unite to save democracy: “The government and its leaders annoy the majority of Venezuelans.”
Henrique Capriles cannot stand in the presidential vote as he was banned from public office for 15 years in April for mismanaging public funds as governor of Miranda state.
He denies any wrongdoing and says the charges were politically motivated.
Nicolas Maduro said the presidential poll would go ahead “with or without the opposition”.
Meanwhile, the former speaker of the opposition-controlled National Assembly, Henry Ramos Allup, said the decision to call an early vote was in retaliation against recent EU sanctions against senior government officials.
Henry Ramos Allup accused the government of usurping the people’s legitimate power with the creation of the Constituent Assembly which effectively bypassed the National Assembly.
The election for the Constituent Assembly was boycotted by the opposition.
The country has for several years struggled with shortages of basic items, including food staples and medication.
President Maduro says foreign nations, and especially the US and Spain, are leading a campaign to bring down Venezuela’s socialist government.
The opposition blames corruption and the policies of the Socialist Party, which has been in power since 1999, for rampant violence and the collapse of the economy.
Nicolas Maduro was elected in April 2013 to succeed his mentor, the late Hugo Chavez, who died of cancer.
The president has urged Venezuela’s National Electoral Council to “fix the earliest possible date” to hold the poll.
Nicolas Maduro told his supporters in Caracas: “Let’s get over with this, win the president poll and put an end to the imperialist threat.
“It it was for me, the election would be held next Sunday.”
Brazil has expelled Venezuela’s charge d’affaires Gerardo Delgado.
It came days after Venezuela’s decision to expel the Brazilian ambassador to Caracas, Ruy Pereira.
Venezuela said Brazil had acted illegally in impeaching its former left-wing president, Dilma Rousseff.
On December 23, Venezuela also expelled Canada’s charge d’affaires, accusing him of interfering in internal affairs.
On December 25, Canada announced that Venezuela’s Ambassador Wilmer Barrientos Fernández, who was already abroad, would not be allowed to return.
Venezuela’s charge d’affaires in Ottawa, Ángel Herrera, was also asked to leave.
Relations with Brazil have deteriorated since President Michel Temer took office in 2016, following Dilma Rousseff’s dismissal by Congress for fiscal irregularities.
Venezuela’s President Nicolás Maduro described her impeachment as “a right-wing coup”.
On December 23, the head of Venezuela’s powerful Constituent Assembly, Delcy Rodriguez, said that “diplomatic relations with Brazil will not be restored until the government reinstates the constitutional order it has effectively broken”.
The Brazilian government said the move showed “once again the authoritarian nature of President Maduro’s administration”.
Brazil and Canada have both become outspoken critics of President Maduro.
They accuse Nicolas Maduro’s socialist government of harassing the opposition and violating human rights.
Canada imposed sanctions on senior Venezuelan officials a few months ago.
Brazil and Canada were among many countries critical of President Maduro’s decision to convene a Constituent Assembly, which effectively replaced the opposition-controlled National Assembly.
The announcement prompted mass street protests, which killed more than 120 people in four months.
Venezuela’s opposition boycotted the poll in July and also held an unofficial referendum in which they said more than seven million Venezuelans had voted against the constituent assembly.
Nicolas Maduro’s six-year term ends in 2019. He is due to run for re-election in 2018.
Canada has expelled Venezuela’s ambassador to Ottawa, Wilmer Barrientos Fernández, and its charge d’affaires, Ángel Herrera.
Canadian Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland said the move was in retaliation for the expulsion of its ambassador to Caracas over the weekend.
Venezuela had accused Canada of meddling in its internal affairs.
In response, Canada has criticized the government of President Nicolás Maduro over its human rights record.
More than 120 people were killed in Venezuela during months of anti-government protests earlier this year.
Image source misionvenezuela.org
Chrystia Freeland in a statement: “Canadians will not stand by as the Government of Venezuela robs its people of their fundamental democratic and human rights, and denies them access to basic humanitarian assistance.”
“We will continue to work with our partners in the region to apply pressure on the anti-democratic Maduro regime and restore the rights of the Venezuelan people.”
She said Wilmer Barrientos Fernández was already abroad and would not be allowed to return, while Ángel Herrera had been asked to leave.
Canada had already imposed sanctions on senior Venezuelan officials in a move which angered the Venezuelan government.
On December 23, the head of Venezuela’s powerful Constituent Assembly, Delcy Rodríguez, announced Venezuela was declaring Canada’s charge d’affaires to Caracas, Craig Kowalik, persona non grata.
Delcy Rodríguez accused Craig Kowalik of “permanent and insistent, rude and vulgar interference in the internal affairs of Venezuela”.
Venezuela also expelled the Brazilian ambassador, Ruy Pereira, over the alleged violation of the rule of law by its government.
The US imposed sanctions on Nicolas Maduro and the Trump administration labeled the Venezuelan president a “dictator”.
The opposition has accused Nicolas Maduro and his predecessor, the late Hugo Chávez, of destroying the country’s economy with their socialist policies.
Venezuela has one of the world’s highest inflation rates and for years has suffered from a shortage of basic goods, including medicines.
Nicolas Maduro’s six-year term ends in 2019. He is expected to stand for another term in elections scheduled for 2018.
Brazilian Ambassador to Caracas Ruy Pereira and Canadian charge d’affaires Craig Kowalik have been expelled by Venezuela’s powerful Constituent Assembly.
The move was announced by the Constituent Assembly President Delcy Rodriguez.
Delcy Rodriguez accused Brazil of violating the rule of law and Canada of interfering in Venezuela’s internal affairs.
Both countries have strongly criticized the move.
The decision to expel Ambassador Ruy Pereira may have been triggered by Brazil’s recent complaint that President Nicolás Maduro was “constantly harassing the opposition”.
Canada imposed sanctions on senior Venezuelan officials a few months ago.
Venezuela’s diplomatic relations with Brazil have deteriorated since Brazil’s President Michel Temer replaced left-wing leader Dilma Rousseff.
Dilma Rousseff’s impeachment was described by Nicolas Maduro as a “right-wing coup”.
Delcy Rodriguez said at a news conference on December 23: “Diplomatic relations with Brazil will not be restored until the government reinstates the constitutional order it has effectively broken.”
In response, the Brazilian government said the move showed once again the authoritarian nature of President Maduro’s administration.
Delcy Rodriguez accused Craig Kowalik of “permanent and insistent, rude and vulgar interference in the internal affairs of Venezuela”.
Relations with Canada have been difficult for months. Earlier this year, Ottawa imposed sanctions on Venezuelan officials for alleged human rights violations and corruption.
Last month, Foreign Minister Jorge Arreaza said that the sanctions were illegal and accused the Canadian government of “shameful and utter submission to Donald Trump’s administration”.
In response, Canada said to the expulsion of its charge d’affaires by saying it would not be cowed into easing pressure on the Maduro government.
Brazil and Canada were among many countries critical of President Maduro’s decision to convene a Constituent Assembly, which effectively replaced the opposition-controlled National Assembly.
The announcement prompted mass street protests, which killed more than 120 people in four months.
The opposition boycotted the poll in July and also held an unofficial referendum in which they said more than seven million Venezuelans voted against the constituent assembly.
The EU and major Latin American nations have said they will not recognize the new body.
Meanwhile, the US imposed sanctions on President Maduro and the Trump administration labeled him a “dictator”.
Nicolas Maduro’s six-year term ends in 2019. He is due to run for re-election next year.
The opposition has accused President Maduro and his predecessor, the late Hugo Chavez, of destroying Venezuela’s economy with their socialist policies.
Venezuela has one of the world’s highest inflation rates and for years has suffered from a shortage of basic goods, including medicines.
Venezuela’s main opposition parties are banned from taking part in 2018 presidential election, President Nicolas Maduro has announced.
The president said only parties which took part in December 10 mayoral polls would be able to contest the presidency.
Opposition leaders from the Justice First, Popular Will and Democratic Action parties boycotted the vote because they said the electoral system was biased.
Nicolas Maduro insists the Venezuelan system is entirely trustworthy.
In a speech on local polls day, he said the opposition parties had “disappeared from the political map”.
“A party that has not participated today and has called for the boycott of the elections can’t participate anymore,” he said.
Two months ago, the three main opposition parties announced they would be boycotting December 10 vote, saying it only served what they called President Nicolas Maduro’s dictatorship.
Nicolas Maduro says his party won more than 300 of the 335 mayoral races being contested. The election board put turn out at 47%.
Venezuela has been mired in a worsening economic crisis characterized by shortages of basic goods and soaring inflation.
Presiedent Maduro said he was following the criteria set by the National Constituent Assembly in banning opposition parties from contesting next year’s election.
However, the assembly, which came into force in August and has the ability to rewrite the constitution, is made up exclusively of government loyalists. Opposition parties see it as a way for the president to cling to power.
The presidential vote had been scheduled for December 2018, but analysts say it could now be brought forward.
Venezuela has a population of more than 30 million people. It has some of the world’s largest oil deposits as well as huge quantities of coal and iron ore.
Despite its rich natural resources many Venezuelans live in poverty. This led President Nicolas Maduro’s predecessor, Hugo Chávez, to style himself as a champion of the poor during his 14 years in office.
Now the country is starkly divided between supporters of President Nicolas Maduro and those who want an end to the Socialist Party’s 18 years in government.
Nicolas Maduro supporters say his party has lifted many people out of poverty, but critics say it has eroded Venezuela’s democratic institutions and mismanaged its economy.
Henrique Capriles, one of Venezuela’s opposition leading members, has announced he was leaving the coalition.
The former presidential candidate said the move was in protest at the decision by four newly elected opposition governors to pledge allegiance to the constituent assembly.
The Roundtable for Democracy (MUD) regards the constituent assembly as illegitimate.
The MUD governors were elected in regional polls this month in which the government won 18 out of 23 states.
The outcome of the October 15 elections, which the MUD said were fraudulent – and President Nicolas Maduro’s insistence that all new governors bow to the constituent assembly – has caused a rift among members of the opposition coalition.
On October 24, Henrique Capriles said that he “would not be part” of the opposition MUD “because it is not unity as a concept or a vision”.
“It is just some people that grab the bones that are thrown to them,” he said.
Five MUD governors who won seats opted to boycott a previous event in which 18 newly elected socialist governors were sworn in to the constituent assembly.
However, four of them – the governors for Táchira, Mérida, Nuevo Esparta and Anzoátegui – later changed their stance and pledged allegiance, defying their coalition’s official position.
President Maduro, who has described the election result as a victory, said governors who refused to be sworn in by the constituent assembly would not be allowed to take up office.
The MUD have published what they say is evidence of fraud in the state of Bolívar, where the government candidate was declared the winner after a two-day delay.
The results were announced by the president of the National Electoral Council (CNE), Tibisay Lucena. The CNE is dominated by government loyalists and has been accused of pro-government bias by the opposition.
The council came under fire earlier this year when the company providing the voting systems for July’s elections for the constituent assembly said the turn-out figures for that poll had been manipulated.
The CNE dismissed those allegations and used a different company for October 15 vote.
President Nicolas Maduro praised the results as proof that Venezuela has “the best electoral system in the world” and opposition leaders have called for street protests to be held on October 16.
Venezuela’s controversial constituent assembly has unanimously voted to put opposition leaders on trial for treason.
It said it would pursue those it accuses of supporting US economic sanctions against Venezuela.
The US approved the measures last week in response to what it called the “dictatorship” of President Nicolás Maduro.
Nicolás Maduro has accused the US of trying to cripple Venezuela’s economy amid an ongoing economic crisis.
On August 25, President Donald Trump signed an executive order to ban trade in Venezuelan debt or the sale of bonds from its state oil company.
The president’s reasons included “serious abuses of human rights” as well as the creation of the “illegitimate” constituent assembly, which the US accuses of usurping the democratically elected parliament.
The constituent assembly, which was convened by President Nicolás Maduro and is made up of government supporters, has been condemned by international leaders as unconstitutional.
On August 29, members of the assembly unanimously approved a decree calling for the investigation of “traitors” who supported the economic sanctions.
During the three-hour session, they took turns denouncing those who have been critical of the government in ever more colorful language.
Among those they attacked for allegedly being “engaged in the promotion of these immoral actions against the interests of the Venezuelan people” were not only members of opposition parties but also former supporters of the socialist government.
The sacked chief prosecutor Luisa Ortega, who over the past months has become one of the most vocal critics of the government, came in for particular vitriol.
Constituent assembly member Iris Varela called Luisa Ortega “scum”. She also said that Luisa Ortega “crawled like a worm” and “sold her homeland for a few dollars she stole from this country”.
Luisa Ortega was fired by the constituent assembly in its first session earlier this month and replaced by a loyal government supporter, Tarek William Saab.
She has since traveled to a number of Latin American countries denouncing alleged government corruption in Venezuela.
The head of the opposition-controlled parliament, Julio Borges, was named as “one of the real enemies of Venezuela” for asking US bank Goldman Sachs to stop buying Venezuelan bonds.
Julio Borges reacted by saying that it was time the government stopped looking for others to blame for Venezuela’s economic and political crisis.
“The only one responsible is Maduro and it’s time he takes a look in the mirror and accepts he has ruined Venezuela,” Julio Borges told reporters.
Venezuelan conductor Gustavo Dudamel has confirmed that his US tour with Venezuela’s National Youth Orchestra has been canceled.
The star conductor said the cancelation, which came just days after President Nicolás Maduro publicly criticized him, was “heartbreaking”.
In May, Gustavo Dudamel spoke out against President Maduro’s government.
President Maduro replied: “May God forgive you for letting yourself be fooled.”
Gustavo Dudamel, 36, is the music director of both the Los Angeles Philharmonic and the Simón Bolívar Symphony Orchestra of Venezuela.
He gained further fame by becoming the youngest musician to conduct the Vienna Philharmonic’s annual New Year’s concert in 2017.
Gustavo Dudamel had stayed silent on the politics of his homeland until the beginning of May, when after a month of anti-government protests, he called on the government “to listen to the people”.
As the political crisis in Venezuela worsened, Gustavo Dudamel spoke out again in July, this time in opinion pieces published in the New York Times and Spanish daily El País criticizing the constituent assembly the president had convened.
Image source Wikimedia
On August 18, President Nicolas Maduro responded: “Welcome to politics, Gustavo Dudamel, but act with ethics, and don’t let yourself be deceived into attacking the architects of this beautiful movement of young boys and girls.”
The president referred to the young musicians which form part of Venezuela’s praised musical education program, El Sistema.
Nicolas Maduro also had a dig at the conductor for living abroad: “I don’t live abroad, true. None of us lives abroad, in Madrid or in Los Angeles.
“Where do we live? In Venezuela and we have to work for the Venezuelans.”
On August 21, three days after that public criticism, Venezuelan media reported that the US tour of Venezuela’s National Youth Orchestra under the baton of Gustavo Dudamel had been canceled by the president’s office.
On August 22, Gustavo Dudamel confirmed the reports on Twitter, saying: “Heart-breaking cancellation of our 4-city NYOV US tour.”
No reason for the cancelation of the tour has been given so far.
Some Venezuelan media speculated that the tour was canceled “in revenge” for Gustavo Dudamel speaking out against the government but others pointed out the high cost of transporting the young musicians to the US at a time when the Venezuelan government is running low on foreign currency reserves.
President Maduro is also an outspoken critic of “the imperialist US”, which he blames for many of Venezuela’s problems.
Venezuela’s new constituent assembly has overwhelmingly voted in favor of assuming the powers of the opposition-led parliament.
However, parliament has rejected the move. President Nicolas Maduro says the new assembly will end political unrest, but many say it is a slide towards dictatorship.
Meanwhile Colombia says Venezuela’s chief prosecutor Luisa Ortega Diaz has arrived in the capital Bogota.
Luisa Ortega Diaz said she feared for her life after being dismissed by the controversial assembly.
Once a staunch supporter of Nicolas Maduro, Luisa Ortega had become a strong critic of the president’s socialist government in recent months.
The former chief prosecutor’s whereabouts had been unknown following her dismissal on August 5.
On August 18, Luisa Ortega told a regional conference via videolink that she had evidence that President Maduro was embroiled in a corruption scandal involving the Brazilian construction company, Odebrecht.
Odebrecht has admitted paying bribes to win contracts in 12 countries, though no Venezuelans have been named.
Venezuela’s parliament said citizens and the international community would not recognize the constituent assembly’s new powers.
The head of the Organization of American States (OAS) Luis Almagro called the move an “illegitimate dissolution” of the elected parliament.
Regional economic bloc Mercosur – which includes the region’s two biggest economies Brazil and Argentina – also condemned the move.
Earlier this month, Mercosur suspended Venezuela indefinitely, urging President Maduro to release prisoners and begin a political transition.
The heads of Venezuela’s opposition-controlled parliament and the new assembly have been trading insults on social media.
Parliament head Julio Borges accused the constituent assembly of a “coup” while new assembly head Delcy Rodriguez – a close ally of President Maduro – denounced his “lies”.
President Maduro’s wife and son are among the 545 members of the new assembly, which was set up following a controversial election earlier this month.
More than 120 people have been killed in Venezuela’s violent protests since April.
Nicolas Maduro’s opponents want to hold a vote to remove him, blaming his left-wing administration for food shortages and soaring inflation in the oil-rich country.
Constituent assemblies are set up for the specific purpose of drafting or adopting a constitution, and as such can fundamentally change how a country is run.
Venezuela has seen waves of violent protests, and President Maduro presented the assembly as a way of promoting “reconciliation and peace”.
An ally of Nicolas Maduro, former foreign minister Delcy Rodriguez, is president of the new body
The election for the constituent assembly was marred by violence and accusations of fraud.
Venezuela’s electoral authorities said more than eight million people, or 41.5% of the electorate, had voted, a figure the company that provided the voting system said was inflated.
The opposition boycotted the poll and also held an unofficial referendum in which they said more than seven million Venezuelans voted against the constituent assembly.
The US has imposed sanctions on Presidnet Maduro, with the Trump administration calling him a “dictator”.
The EU and major Latin American nations say they will not recognize the new body.
Nicolas Maduro retains a major ally in Russia, however, and has the support of several left-wing nations in the Americas.
President Donald Trump has announced he is not ruling out a military option in dealing with the crisis in Venezuela.
The president said: “The people are suffering and they are dying.”
Venezuela’s Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino said President Trump’s suggestion was “an act of craziness”.
President Nicolas Maduro’s new constituent assembly has been widely criticized as anti-democratic. The US recently imposed sanctions on Nicolas Maduro, branding him a dictator.
President Trump told reporters on August 11: “We have many options for Venezuela, including a possible military option if necessary.
“We have troops all over the world in places that are very far away. Venezuela is not very far away and the people are suffering and they’re dying.”
The White House later said that President Maduro had requested a phone call with President Trump.
In response, the White House said President Trump would gladly speak to his Venezuelan counterpart, when democracy had been restored in the country.
Regional pressure on the Venezuelan government has continued, with Peru ordering the expulsion of the Venezuelan ambassador from Lima after Caracas sent an “unacceptable” response to regional condemnation of its new constituent assembly.
Ambassador Diego Molero has five days to leave Peru, officials say.
The move by Peru’s foreign ministry, announced in a statement on Twitter, follows the condemnation by 11 other major countries in the Americas of Venezuela’s controversial constituent assembly.
The new body has the ability to rewrite the constitution and could override the opposition-controlled parliament, the National Assembly.
In a separate development, Peruvian President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski, a fierce critic of Nicolas Maduro, has urged him to resign, saying he lost any credibility after the election of the new body.
Pablo Kuczynski told Reuters: “He’s a dictator and has carried out a coup through a fraudulent election to eliminate Congress.”
The Peruvian president also rejected an offer from Presidnet Maduro to meet face-to-face.
The Venezuelan opposition, which boycotted the election for the constituent assembly, accuses Nicolas Maduro of trying to cling on to power, which he denies.
Nicolas Maduro has repeatedly said that the new assembly would bring peace to Venezuela.
Violent demonstrations since April have left more than 120 people dead in Venezuela.
Venezuela’s government websites have been hacked in an operation targeting the “dictatorship” of President Nicolás Maduro.
Calling itself “The Binary Guardians”, the hacking group posted messages appearing to support the actions of a group of armed civilians who attacked a military base in the central city of Valencia on August 6.
Meanwhile, President Maduro’s supporters marched in the capital Caracas.
They called for an end to months of opposition protests and unrest.
The hacked sites included the Venezuelan government, the National Electoral Council and the Venezuelan navy.
A message on the main government site made reference to “Operation David”, which Venezuelan media had reported was the codename of the attack in Valencia.
“This dictatorship has its days numbered,” the message added.
The government said it had repelled the attack in Valencia, which was carried out by a group of armed civilians led by a military deserter.
A search was under way for 10 men who escaped with weapons after the attack, President Maduro said.
The assault in the north-western city of Valencia was carried out by 20 people, he said. Two were killed, one was injured and seven were arrested.
Earlier, a video posted on social media showed uniformed men saying they were rising against a “murderous tyranny”.
On state TV, Niclas Maduro congratulated the army for its “immediate reaction” in putting down the attack on August 6, saying they had earned his “admiration.”
The president called the incident a “terrorist attack” carried out by “mercenaries”, and said the security forces were actively searching for those who had escaped.
“We’ll get them,” Nicolas Maduro vowed.
The government said that those arrested included a first lieutenant who had deserted. It said the others were civilians wearing uniforms.
President Maduro said the group had been backed by anti-government leaders based in the US and Colombia.
In August 6 video, a rebel leader who identified himself as Juan Caguaripano, said that his group – which he called the 41st Brigade – was taking a stand against the “murderous tyranny of President Nicolás Maduro”.
“This is not a coup but a civic and military action to re-establish constitutional order.”
Violent demonstrations began in April and have spread across Venezuela which, despite being oil-rich, is experiencing severe shortages of food and medicines, as well as inflation in excess of 700%.
The incident in Valencia came the day after the first session of the newly inaugurated Constituent Assembly, seen by the opposition as a way for the left-wing president to cling to power.
Nicolas Maduro has repeatedly said that the new body will bring peace to Venezuela.
The Constituent Assembly has the ability to rewrite the constitution and could override the opposition-controlled parliament, the National Assembly.
Venezuela’s chief prosecutor Luisa Ortega Diaz says she was dismissed by the new constituent assembly because the government wanted to stop her investigations into alleged corruption and human rights abuses.
Luisa Ortega, a supporter turned critic of President Nicolás Maduro, has rejected her dismissal.
She will face trial for “serious misconduct”, the Supreme Court says.
Meanwhile, one of the opposition leaders, Leopoldo Lopez, has been returned from jail to house arrest.
Leopoldo López was taken from his home on August 1 and spent four days in a military jail.
South American regional bloc Mercosur has suspended Venezuela “indefinitely”, having previously placed it under a temporary ban. It says the country will not be re-admitted until the constituent assembly is scrapped and all political prisoners are released.
Another opponent of the government, Antonio Ledezma, is also back under house arrest after three days in jail last week.
Antinio Ledezma and Leopoldo Lopez had encouraged protests against the constituent assembly, which is dominated by government supporters.
In its first session on August 5, the assembly unanimously voted to remove Luisa Ortega from her post.
She was prevented from entering her office in Caracas by dozens of National Guard officers in riot gear, and left on a motorbike amid chaotic scenes.
In a statement released by the public prosecutor’s office, Luisa Ortega said President Maduro’s government was leading a “coup against the constitution”.
“I do not recognize the decision,” she said of her dismissal.
“[This is] just a tiny example of what’s coming for everyone that dares to oppose this totalitarian form of ruling.”
Venezuela’s Supreme Court, loyal to Nicolas Maduro, did not give details of the accusations against Luisa Ortega.
Luisa Ortega, who broke ranks with the government in March, had opposed the assembly’s inauguration on August 4, citing allegations of voting fraud.
Tarek William Saab, a supporter of President Nicolas Maduro, has been sworn in as her replacement.
Luisa Ortega’s removal was widely expected but the fact that it was decided on the first working day of the assembly suggested that the new body could take aggressive measures against President Maduro’s critics, correspondents say.
Mexico, Peru and Colombia have condemned Luisa Ortega’s dismissal.
President Maduro says the constituent assembly is needed to bring peace after months of protests sparked by severe economic hardship.
However, the opposition says it is a way for the president to cling to power.
The constituent assembly has the ability to rewrite the constitution, and could override the opposition-controlled parliament, the National Assembly.
Julio Borges, speaker of the National Assembly, said Luisa Ortega’s removal was illegal and showed that the country’s institutions had been “taken hostage by only one hand, only one political party” through “an undemocratic mechanism that is utterly dictatorial.”
Despite being oil-rich, Venezuela is experiencing severe shortages of food and medicines, as well as inflation in excess of 700%. Violent demonstrations since April have left more than 100 people dead.
President Donald Trump has warned that the US holds Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro “personally responsible” for the safety of the seized opposition leaders Leopoldo López and Antonio Ledezma.
In a statement, President Trump also called for the immediate and unconditional release of all political prisoners.
Leopoldo López and Antonio Ledezma, who had been under house arrest, were taken to a military prison on August 1.
This came after July 30 controversial vote for a constitutional assembly.
At least 10 people were killed, as the opposition boycotted the election.
President Nicolas Maduro said the poll was a “vote for the revolution”, arguing that the move would create peace and foster dialogue by bringing together different sectors of Venezuela’s polarized society.
The opposition said on August 1 that it had decided to hold a demonstration against the new assembly on August 3.
Opposition lawmaker Freddy Guevara tweeted the rally would be held on “the day the dictatorship plans to install the fraudulent assembly”.
It had originally been thought that the government would open the constituent assembly on Wednesday, thereby evicting the opposition-controlled National Assembly.
In his statement, President Trump said the US condemned the actions of the “Maduro dictatorship”.
Leopoldo López and Antonio Ledezma were “political prisoners being held illegally by the regime”, he added.
“The United States holds Maduro – who publicly announced just hours earlier that he would move against his political opposition – personally responsible for the health and safety of Mr. López, Mr. Ledezma and any others seized.”
Earlier, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson described the re-arrest of Leopoldo López and Antonio Ledezma as “very alarming”.
“The situation from a humanitarian standpoint is already becoming dire,” he said.
“We are evaluating all of our policy options as to what can we do to create a change of conditions, where either Maduro decides he doesn’t have a future and wants to leave of his own accord, or we can return the government processes back to their constitution.”
US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin announced on July 31 that the US had imposed sanctions on President Maduro.
Leopoldo López was taken from his home at 12:27 local time on August 1, his wife, Lilian Tintori, wrote on Twitter.
A video posted showed Leopoldo López being taken away by members of the Venezuelan intelligence service, Sebin.
The daughter of Antonio Ledezma, Vanessa Ledezma, also posted a video of her father, wearing pajamas, being taken away by the Sebin.
Both Leopoldo López and Antonio Ledezma were key figures in the wave of protests which swept through Venezuela in 2014 in which 43 people from both sides of the political divide were killed.
They have played a less prominent role in the most recent protests because they have been under house arrest but their video messages still get reported and shared widely on opposition websites.
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