Venezuela's opposition leader urges nation to defy state of emergency
Amid a political and economic crisis in Venezuela, opposition leader Henrique Capriles urged the nation Tuesday to defy a state of emergency decreed by the government of President Nicolas Maduro.
Capriles said lawmakers will probably reject the decree as the opposition-controlled congress prepares to debate it.
If the government insists the decree remains in force, the opposition leader stated, “it is up to us ... to ignore this decree.”
The decree would have to go through the National Assembly and the Supreme Court for approval and review in line with the constitution.
The National Assembly is expected to oppose the state of emergency, but the Supreme Court is expected to support it.
In the past, President Maduro has successfully referred bills blocked by the National Assembly to the Supreme Court for approval.
Maduro ordered the 60-day state of emergency, giving the government and security forces special authorization to maintain order and supply basic necessities such as food and services across the country.
The Venezuelan president said the new decree was necessary “to tend to our country and, more importantly, to prepare to denounce, neutralize and overcome the external and foreign aggression against our country.”
The new security measures will be put to a test on Wednesday, when nation-wide opposition demonstrations are scheduled to be held.
Maduro said on May 14 that all businesses and factories closed by their owners would be seized and handed over to their workers in order to restart production in the country.
He accused owners of the factories of intentionally sabotaging production in an effort to help topple the government amid the economic crisis.
Maduro has also called for military exercises to take place next weekend to prepare for “any scenario” including a foreign invasion.
The president has said previously that the opposition, with the support of the United States, aims to launch a coup d’état in the oil-rich country.
The opposition, which last year swept a two-third majority of the seats in the National Assembly, has vowed to remove President Maduro from power.
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