Let venezuelans speak through the vote
Violence was present throughout the country during a series of civic events organized by the Venezuelan opposition to demand respect for the national Constitution, among other things, this week. Such violence and its consequences are the sole responsibility of Nicolás Maduro and his people. And no one else’s.
The decision they made of disrespecting the will of the Venezuelan people by ignoring the new members of the Parliament (aka National Assembly) elected on December 6 2015, is maintained by also having prevented the holding of a referendum against Maduro last year, to which is added the decision not to convene elections at regional level that had to be held in December of last year.
During his speech on Avenida Bolívar in western Caracas, Maduro said he wanted to resolve the existing political differences through elections and that he wanted them soon. This is one of the four requests made by the Democratic Unity Roundtable (MUD) opposition coalition for several months and that has been ignored both by the Government and the four members from the ruling United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV) that make up the board of directors of the National Electoral Council (CNE).
Although it is hard to believe, Maduro also defined himself as a man of dialogue who believes in the power of word and reasoning. Once again, he offered to hold talks with the democratic sectors of the country, but unfortunately, his word is more devalued than the bolívar currency itself.
We have always believed that dialogue and understanding are necessary. We continue to believe that this is the most appropriate path for Venezuelans, but the Maduro government has to give concrete demonstrations that this time is for real. It must demonstrate that resuming talks will not be just to mock those who oppose it.
The requests made by the MUD are concrete. None of them is out of the Constitution. The regional elections were supposed to be held last year, while the municipal ones have to be carried out this year. Why does not Maduro tell his ladies heading the CNE to set the electoral timetable once and for all? A democracy that touts itself as being so cannot have any political prisoners.
A friend of Maduro as is José “Pepe” Mujica, the former President of Uruguay, told him that.
What was decided by Venezuelans when they elected new Parliament members on December 6 2015 has to be respected as well. It is not enough to recognize the election results, but to accept the consequences of these results.
Establishing a humanitarian channel is a measure of basic need. The lives of many are in danger. To believe in the word of Maduro some of these requests should be dealt with immediately, but the final solution is to reestablish the constitutional order and let the people of Venezuela speak through the vote.
Laht | TalCual
