Revolutionise or Compromise? what Venezuela’s Maduro could be doing

Written on December 24th, 2016 in politics Comments Off

… and what is he actually doing – Published on VenezelAnalysis by Ryan Mallett-Outri, Dec 20, 2016.

Venezuela has been in a state of political crisis since the right-wing opposition coalition, the MUD took control of the National Assembly (AN) in early 2016. Socialist President Nicolas Maduro is now presiding over a sharply divided government, while a deep economic crisis has wreaked havoc on Venezuelan society … //

… Option 1: Maduro Should Deepen the Revolution: … //
… Option 2: Maduro Should Compromise with the MUD: … //
… Option 3: Maduro Should Maintain the Current Political Stalemate: … //

… Wait, What is Maduro Obstructing?

As an aside, it’s worth noting that Maduro isn’t obstructing serious social, political or economic reform. As previously stated, very little in this vein has been proposed by the MUD. Some examples of AN action or MUD initiatives that has been blocked, ruled unconstitutional, postponed or otherwise obstructed by Maduro or the Supreme Court include:

  • 1. An broad amnesty bill that would have released prisoners convicted of violence linked to political events like the 2002 coup, and 2014 unrest.
  • 2. An AN investigation into allegations US$11 billion has pretty much disappeared from the coffers of state oil firm PDVSA.
  • 3. One of the key premises of the MUD’s impeachment attempt, which was the claim that Maduro is actually a Colombian, and not fit to hold office. For anyone scratching their heads over this one, just think back to the US birther movement of yesteryear that supposed Barack Obama was a Kenyan national. Thankfully though, Maduro hasn’t faced an inquiry into what he was doing at the time of the Benghazi attack.
  • 4. AN efforts to overthrow the Supreme Court.
  • 5. A bill that would have forced Maduro to automatically accept any international aid deals.
  • 6. Another bill that would have privatised public housing.
  • 7. Finally, of course, the recall referendum.

This is far from an exhaustive list, but it’s a good cross section illustrating what the AN has at least tried to do since the start of 2016. Only once piece of attempted legislation even seemed related to the immediate economic crisis. All of these initiatives have ultimately failed so far, though the current political impasse can’t last forever … //

Option 4: The Wildcard: … //

… So to summarise, Maduro has four options: a deepening of the revolution, political compromise, stalemate or face a possible coup. If we had to guess which path Maduro is currently taking, it’d have to be the stalemate option, with signs of efforts at compromise. This strategy has succeeded in frustrating MUD attempts to exert power through the AN, though it’ll be impossible to maintain beyond 2019 without degrading Venezuela’s representative democracy. However, Maduro isn’t inevitability consigned to this path. He could change tack and deepen the revolution, or try to reach a serious compromise with the MUD. Whichever path he chooses, we must remember it wasn’t inevitable.

(full long text).

Links:

AUDIO – Economic Update: Xmas vs Economic Realities, 55.05 min, uploaded by Democracy At Work, Dec 22, 2016 … updates on politicians lying about economics, fines for big banks, Maine votes left, int students come less to US, Pebble Mine struggle, fading American dream. Major discussions of (1) Xmas spirit vs deporting immigrants, (2) the only way to rescue and rebuild the US “middle class” and (3) raising capital for worker coops;

Russia, Iran And Turkey Issue Joint Declaration On Syrian Settlement, on Countercurrent.org, by Bill Van Auken, Dec 22, 2016: after meeting in Moscow on Tuesday, top officials of the Russian, Iranian and Turkish governments issued a joint eight-point statement of principles calling for the extension of a ceasefire throughout Syria and a negotiated settlement between the Syrian government and its opponents …;

Drones Set To Replace Security Guards As Patrol Of The Future, on Activists Post, by Nicholas West, Dec 22, 2016;

How The Military Excluded The White House From International Syria Negotiations, on Moon of Alabama, Dec 21, 2016: the NYT laments today that international negotiations about the situation in Syria now continue without any U.S. participation: Russia, Iran and Turkey Meet for Syria Talks, Excluding U.S. …;

Flint Water Crisis - Michigan AG Pursues Felony Indictments Against Former Emergency Managers, on naked capitalism, by Jerri-Lynn Scofield, Dec 21, 2016:

Rhythm of breathing affects memory, fear, on Science Faily, BSource , Dec 7, 2016: breathing is not just for oxygen, it’s also linked to brain function, behavior;

250 Million Women Were Married Before Their 15th Birthday, 0.32 min, uploaded by AllAfrica Newsdesk, Nov 25, 2016 … Malawi’s Chief Kachindamoto is champion in the fight to stop child marriage. As senior chief of the Dezda district, she has annulled nearly 1,500 such marriages and suspended village heads who have consented to the practice;

Graham Hancock I traced the Human Story, 48.19 min, uploaded by Ancient Aliens TV, Nov 25, 2016;

My Discoveries are Lethal to Academia – Graham Hancock, 85.15 min, uploaded by Robert Bauval, Nov 7, 2016 … the Graham Hancock Archive;

Quand la droite prend le pouvoir, dans Alternatives Economiques, par Vincent Grimault, nov 2016: économie, formation, lycées, environnement, associations, logement, transport…, enquête dans les régions qui ont basculé en 2015;

… and this:

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