Tag: venezuela

Socialism, Not US Sanctions, Ruined the Venezuelan Economy

US sanctions against Venezuela are barbaric and immoral. But, they are not responsible for the economic collapse that has transpired in Venezuela over the past twenty years. Yes, the sanctions have further reduced the standard of living in Venezuela, and the burden of relative impoverishment caused by the sanctions has fallen hardest on those at the lowest end of the socio-economic ladder.

However, the effects of these US-imposed sanctions have not been nearly broad enough to be responsible for the general collapse of economic conditions that we now see in that country.

It is important to make this distinction because defenders of Venezuela’s socialist economic policies have repeatedly attempted to claim that sanctions are the primary reason for the country’s economic collapse.

Why do the socialist apologists claim this? It’s so they can make the case—as socialists are always eager to do—that socialism would be a boon for everyone’s standard of living if only it weren’t for the interference of foreign states like the US.

The truth, however, is that socialist policies like those practiced in Venezuela—widespread expropriation of private businesses coupled with vast wealth redistribution and government dominance of major industry sectors—are more than enough to destroy any polity’s economy. It is not necessary for Washington to intervene.

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Communist Tyrant Nicolas Maduro Announces Construction of Two Maximum-Security Detention Centers – Says His Goal Is to Turn Them Into “Reeducation Centers”

On Sunday, Venezuelans went to the polls to select a new president.

By Sunday night the results were clear. Exit polls found that the Venezuelans voted two-to-one to end the communist dictatorship of Nicolas Maduro.

The exit polls had communist tyrant Nicolas Maduro losing by a landslide.

66.6% for opposition leader Edmundo Gonzalez and 30.86% for Nicolas Maduro.

A Chavista worker allegedly posted a selfie from the Computing Center, inadvertently revealing on multiple screens the overwhelming defeat of Nicolás Maduro in several states.

But on Monday, Maduro announced he was the clear winner. On Tuesday he called for the arrest of the two leading opposition figures.

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Biden Regime Officially Recognizes Gonzalez Victor as the Legitimate Winner of the Recently Concluded Venezuela Election Due to Election Fraud

Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced Thursday that the Biden regime officially recognizes Edmundo González Urrutia as the legitimate winner of Venezuela’s July 28 presidential election.

This statement comes after widespread allegations of electoral fraud and manipulation by the Maduro regime.

In a statement, Blinken commended the Venezuelan people for their resilience and participation in an election marred by significant challenges.

“At least 12 million Venezuelans peacefully went to the polls and exercised one of the most powerful rights given to people in any democracy: the right to vote,” he said.

However, he condemned the National Electoral Council (CNE), which is widely viewed as a tool of Nicolás Maduro’s government, for its handling of the election results.

“The CNE’s rapid declaration of Nicolás Maduro as the winner came with no supporting evidence,” Blinken said.

He highlighted that despite calls from both Venezuelans and the international community, the CNE has failed to publish crucial data, including disaggregated vote tallies and official precinct-level results.

Blinken condemned Maduro’s threats against opposition leaders, including Edmundo González and María Corina Machado. He called for their protection and the immediate release of all individuals arrested for peacefully participating in the electoral process.

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Comprehensive Update on Venezuela: Maduro Regime Issues Arrest Warrant Against the Opposition Leaders

In light of the events unfolding in Venezuela, there is a strong campaign on X (formerly Twitter) supporting Venezuelans and constantly denouncing fraud in the elections. Let’s review today’s events:

Santiago Abascal, leader of the VOX party in Spain, recently posted on Twitter the wanted poster issued by the U.S. government offering a reward of 15 million dollars for information leading to the arrest of Nicolás Maduro. The U.S. government accuses Maduro of drug trafficking, corruption, and undermining democracy in Venezuela. According to available information, these accusations are part of a broader set of charges related to drug trafficking and arms use, involving high-ranking officials of the Venezuelan regime, including military personnel and judges.

The president of the Supreme Court of Justice of Venezuela in exile declared this morning that the OAS technical report evidences Maduro’s self-coup to cling to power.

The report details how Maduro’s regime has systematically manipulated the country’s democratic institutions to maintain control, including the use of the National Electoral Council (CNE) and the Supreme Court of Justice to invalidate unfavorable electoral results and suppress the opposition.

The conclusion is clear: “results without formal public records should not receive democratic recognition” said the president of the Supreme Court of Justice of Venezuela in exile today.

Since the highly criticized 2018 presidential election, which was marred by irregularities and a lack of transparency, Maduro has consolidated his power through authoritarian tactics such as repressing demonstrations, imprisoning opponents, and controlling the judicial and electoral apparatus.

The militarization of the government and the loyalty of the armed forces have been crucial for his stay in power, despite the deep economic crisis and international sanctions.

The president of the Supreme Court of Justice of Venezuela in exile declared this morning: “The technical report from @OAS_official evidences Maduro’s self-coup to cling to power. The conclusion is clear: results without formal public records should not receive democratic recognition.”

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Venezuela: Who’s Coup-ing Who?

After innumerable US-backed coup attempts in Venezuela – including the almost comical Juan Guaido fiasco – one might think Americans would become skeptical when the old “stolen election” and “regime change” narrative is rolled out again. But as in Hollywood, when you have a successful story you keep rolling out sequels. Does it matter who runs Venezuela? Only if you are in oil or minerals… or the regime change business.

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Venezuela Election Protests Spread As Maduro Claims US-Backed ‘Color Revolution’ Driving Mayhem

“We’ve seen this movie before,” said Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro from the presidential palace following a night of massive protests and unrest which has seen clashes with police. The protests look to spread Tuesday, as new large rallies are being planned.

“We have been following all of the acts of violence promoted by the extreme right,” he added in the fresh remarks cited by Reuters. Overnight, several United Socialist Party of Venezuela offices and headquarters were burned by oppositionists who charge that the election was stolen. 

Maduro also commented, “I’m getting a video here of the burning of PSUV’s headquarters in Calabozo… this is very typical of what they call ‘Color Revolutions’, designed by the Americans. It’s a script.”

Protests have reportedly come near the Miraflores presidential palace in Caracas, with crowds – many of which marched by foot from rural districts – clashing with police, even using petrol bombs against security forces. And as we detailed previously, a number of statues depicting former President Hugo Chavez, Maduro’s mentor and leader of the country from 1999-2013, were torn down.

There are scenes of possible gunfire in the Venezuelan capital. Unverified social media videos appear to show that some of the anti-Maduro protesters are armed.

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Opposition Leaders Offer Proof That Venezuelan Elections Were Stolen By Communist Tyrant Maduro – Then Regime Blocks Website

Venezuelan opposition candidate Edmundo González joined by Maria Corina Machado earlier today spoke at a press conference and stated that they have the proof they needed to show that Edmundo was the winner of the country’s highly anticipated presidential election.

Maria Corina Machado claimed that Nicolás Maduro received 2.7 million votes and Edmundo González more than 6 million votes.

As they spoke, thousands of demonstrators took to the streets of many cities in Venezuela to protest and denounce that the regime had stolen once again the election in which both candidates claimed victory.

Later in the day, the regime blocked the link to the opposition party’s website where they offered their proof of the stolen election.

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REVEALED: Venezuelan Illegal Who Raped and Murdered 12-Year-Old Jocelyn Nungaray is Son of Maduro Regime Official

The illegal alien from Venezuela charged with the rape and murder of 12-year-old Jocelyn Nungaray is the son of a former Maduro regime official.

Johan Jose Martinez Rangel, 22, is one of two men accused of Nungaray’s murder in Houston, Texas last month.

Yet it has now been revealed that he is the son of a former official for Venezuela’s socialist regime, making his illegal entry into the United States all the more egregious.

Mail Online reports:

Following Martinez Rangel’s arrest, Venezuelans from his home state of Guarico began flagging on social media that his mother Nazareth Rangel Palacios is a staunch supporter of Nicolas Maduro and served as a councilwoman for his party.

Venezuela’s electoral registry shows Martinez Rangel and Rangel Palacios share the same address in San Juan de Los Morros.

Rangel Palacios was a vocal militant for the ruling party, the United Socialist Party of Venezuela, and was photographed with her son in pro-government events until he left the country in about 2018.

Rangel Martinez and Franklin Pena, 26, are accused of luring Nungaray to an area underneath a bridge before raping and murdering her. They later dumped her body in a creek.

As reported by The Gateway Pundit this week, the murder rate in socialist Venezuela has fallen to a 22-year-low as violent criminals have fled the country in search of fresh opportunities.

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US Military Conducting Flight Operations in Guyana Amid Venezuela Tensions

The US military said Thursday that it would conduct flight operations in Guyana amid tensions between the Caribbean nation and its neighbor Venezuela over the disputed Guayana Esequiba region.

Guayana Esequiba is an oil-rich region that makes up about two-thirds of the territory of the state of Guyana, which gained independence from Britain in 1966. In 1899, an American-British tribunal ruled that the territory belonged to the UK, a position that was rejected by Venezuela.

Venezuela, the UK, and then-British Guiana reached a new agreement in 1966, known as the Geneva Agreement, to reach a mutually satisfactory solution to the dispute. The International Court of Justice opened a case into the dispute in 2018, but a decision is still expected to be years away.

Tensions have risen in recent years over the dispute as more oil discoveries in Guayana Esequiba continue to be made. The American energy giant ExxonMobil discovered massive oil reserves off the coast of Guyana in waters claimed by Venezuela and has been involved in a major offshore drilling project.

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In Venezuela, the US Recognizes a Nonexistent Government

In a piece of bizarre political theater, the US now officially recognizes a government in Venezuela that does not exist. Despite the termination of the government recognized by the US, State Department spokesman Ned Price assured a press briefing that “our approach has not changed.” The US still considers the elected President illegitimate – an increasingly isolated position – and the assembly the unelected president led legitimate, though he no longer leads it, and they are no longer the assembly.

Since February of 2019, the US has recognized the never elected Juan Guaidó as the legitimate leader of Venezuela, creating an already bizarre situation in which there were parallel governments in Venezuela: one recognized within the country and one recognized outside the country.

But the US plan failed in its goal of removing Nicolás Maduro from power. And after four years, the opposition in Venezuela decided to abandon the plan and move on. At the end of December, 2022, Venezuela’s opposition lawmakers by an overwhelming preliminary vote of 72-23, removed Guaidó from power and pulled the plug on his interim government. On December 30, three of Venezuela’s four main opposition parties supported the proposal to remove Guaidó.

Though the US continued to support Guaidó, few in Venezuela did. Only 6% of Venezuelans said they would support Guaidó in presidential primaries, and more than 56% said the interim government should be terminated. Miguel Tinker Salas, Professor of Latin American History at Pomona College, and one of the world’s leading experts on Venezuelan history and politics, told me in November, 2022 that “For all intents and purposes he has been sidelined by developments in the country and even for those in the opposition he is a non-entity.”

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