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[Slayven]

https://au.news.yahoo.com/world/a/3...ay-seek-to-dissolve-congress-spokesman/#page1

Venezuela's government is considering asking the high court to dissolve the country's legislature controlled by President Nicolas Maduro's opponents who are seeking to remove him from office, a spokesman said Tuesday.

Maduro's side "has started discussions to request a consultation with the constitutional chamber of the Supreme Court" with a view to achieving "the abolition of this National Assembly," ruling coalition spokesman Didalco Bolivar told reporters.

I am not that up on the subject, but this doesn't sound like a good thing. In history and fiction when the guy at the top tries to get rid of those below him, shit goes from bad to worse

 

[jett]

Venezuela is going to end up with a military junta at this rate.

 

[DMczaf]

I don't know if this legit news or the start of a new Tom Clancy novel.

 

[El Topo]

You have got to be kidding me. I hope things don't get worse for Machado.

 

[Raxus]

At this point I am wondering if we shouldn't just 'kidnap' Machado out of his country.

 

[massoluk]

Venezuela is going to end up with a military junta at this rate.

Sounds like it.

 

[Damerman]

If they are going to deny representation for the people, how would this NOT spark a revolution?

 

[sphagnum]

Why does the court have the power to dissolve a legislature?

 

[The Omega Man]

You have got to be kidding me. I hope things don't get worse for Machado.

At this point I am wondering if we shouldn't just 'kidnap' Machado out of his country.

They are many like Machado in Venezuela, including my whole family, I know you guys say "Machado" beacuase that's probably the only Venezuelan you sort of know, but even if he gets out like I did 10 years ago, there are still millions that will remain suffering at the mercy of what it has been the most inefficient and corrupt government in the history of democratic Venezuela. This government will do whatever it takes to stay in power.

Why does the court have the power to dissolve a legislature?

The members of all the governmental institutions, even the ones that are there to keep the president in check have been appointed by finger by Maduro

 

[MrKaepora]

https://au.news.yahoo.com/world/a/3...ay-seek-to-dissolve-congress-spokesman/#page1



I am not that up on the subject, but this doesn't sound like a good thing. In history and fiction when the guy at the top tries to get rid of those below him, shit goes from bad to worse

I think Venezuela at this point it's waaaaaaaaaaaaaayyyy past worse

 

[Nivash]

If they are going to deny representation for the people, how would this NOT spark a revolution?

The same way all dictatorships spawn: repression of the people through force.

 

[Ahasverus]

That guy is going to have himself killed

 

[elrechazado]

At this point I am wondering if we shouldn't just 'kidnap' Machado out of his country.

There are millions of machados there.

 

[Corronchilejano]

That guy is going to have himself killed

He's not giving his own people many options is he?

 

[Slayven]

I think Venezuela at this point it's waaaaaaaaaaaaaayyyy past worse

Goddamn

 

[sphagnum]

Since the article in the first post is pretty much breaking news without any extra info, I tried to find some background info. This is from earlier this month, which seems to be what set it off:

President Nicolas Maduro's legal team lodged a formal complaint in Venezuela's Supreme Court on Friday against the National Assembly's opposition leaders for allegedly "usurping" his role in international affairs.

Maduro's legal adviser Elvis Amoroso said documents were delivered to the court accusing the assembly's heads of violating the constitution by requesting support from international bodies including the Organization of American States. The government views the 35-member OAS as a puppet of hostile U.S. policy.

"It's unacceptable that bodies like the OAS ... receive these men when they know they are usurping a constitutional provision that international relations are exclusively managed by the president," Amoroso told state TV from the court.

While the measure was an attempt to stop leaders of the congress from addressing foreign bodies such as the OAS, there are wider fears in opposition circles that the president may seek to close down the legislature altogether.

Thanks to public ire over a brutal economic crisis in the OPEC nation of 30 million, the opposition won control of the assembly in a December election and is pushing for a recall referendum this year to oust Maduro.

Maduro, 53, is already winning a power conflict with the National Assembly, whose measures have been repeatedly struck down by the Supreme Court, but he said recently that the legislature could soon "disappear".

Simon Calzadilla, the congress' third in command, said Friday afternoon that the Supreme Court cannot prosecute a lawmaker without the authorization of the National Assembly, according to the country's constitution.

"The only ones usurping here are the Supreme Court judges in not following the constitution," he told reporters.

OAS head Luis Almagro, a former Uruguayan foreign minister and now a bitter enemy of Maduro, sought this week to begin proceedings at the hemispheric body that could lead to Venezuela's suspension on grounds of violating democracy.

Congress head Henry Ramos, a veteran opposition leader, may address an OAS session.

http://www.reuters.com/article/us-venezuela-politics-idUSKCN0YP257

 

[SwiftDeath]

Yeah, this seems like the next logical step for a dictator coming to power and dropping all pretenses

Stay safe, Venezuela-gaf

 

[davepoobond]

what a shit show.

 

[TheRealTalker]

stuff are getting even worse :/

 

[LucidMomentum]

For more background, check out Machado's (frustrating / heartbreaking / insightful) thread on his experiences as a result of this Venezuelan government and Maduro:

http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1113196

 

[Snwaters]

Anyone following Venezuela should know that this news is a surprise to no one. Maduro himself for all intents and purposes looks very unstable, and he is the leader of what looks like a collective cult around Chavez. The notion of democracy, and maybe even socialism, was just a ruse to cover the 'party's autocratic intentions. Sort of reminds me of the cult of worship around the Kim family in North Korea.

I fully expect that Maduro will take violent action one way or another, in some form or fashion. He and his cult aren't giving up power. Best case scenario, the military brass at large tell him to fuck off, and his craziness is contained. Likely though, it looks like Venezuela is headed for civil war- neither side is willing to back down, and with food growing more scarce, people will get violent to survive.

And just when things in Columbia had a cease fire, we get this. I feel the ordinary people just trying to survive all this.

 

[PeskyToaster]

We need to deploy GAF Team Six to extract Machado and his family.

 

[RionaaM]

I genuinely believe Maduro is only going to leave the presidency if he ends up getting murdered. I hope it doesn't need to come to that, but he's a dictator, plain and simple. I don't see him quitting on his own, or handing the government to the opposition in case they win the next presidential elections.

 

[El Topo]

They are many like Machado in Venezuela, including my whole family, I know you guys say "Machado" beacuase that's probably the only Venezuelan you sort of know, but even if he gets out like I did 10 years ago, there are still millions that will remain suffering at the mercy of what it has been the most inefficient and corrupt government in the history of democratic Venezuela. This government will do whatever it takes to stay in power.

I only referred to him because he is the GAF member that comes to mind, so I used him as a representatives for the many like him in Venezuela. Apologies.

 

[NYCmetsfan]

Wish EV was around still to tell us he's in the right and it's all the USs faul

 

[Flying Toaster]

We need to deploy GAF Team Six to extract Machado and his family.

Machado is one of millions. I feel for him but this is bigger than just a GAF member.

I would love to see some solid articles about the situation.

 

[TEJ]

Fuck this shit. I have an amazing friend who lives in venezeuela and I'm constantly worried for her safety.

 

[Acorn]

Why do nutso govts dig deeper after shit like this? Your days are numbered either way, call an election then stand down.

You're not only hurting your people, you're hurting the "movement" you supposedly stand for.

Fucking idiotic evil bastards. End it, you've fucked yourself, your country and movement.

 

[Coriolanus]

You're not only hurting your people, you're hurting the "movement" you supposedly stand for.

Because it hasn't been about the movement for a long time, if it ever was at all.

Maduro is such an incompetent bastard.

 

[Snwaters]

Washinton Post has an article detailing jut how bad the food situation is.

The fight for food has begun in Venezuela. On any day, in cities across this increasingly desperate nation, crowds form to sack supermarkets. Protesters take to the streets to decry the skyrocketing prices and dwindling supplies of basic goods. The wealthy improvise, some shopping online for food that arrives from Miami. Middle-class families make do with less: coffee without milk, sardines instead of beef, two daily meals instead of three. The poor are stripping mangoes off the trees and struggling to survive.

We're witnessing the collapse of an entire society

 

[Linkark07]

And just when things in Columbia had a cease fire, we get this. I feel the ordinary people just trying to survive all this.

Colombia. This is the second time in less than 2 days that I have seen this.

Back on topic, situation is getting worse each day. But, sadly, this was expected. Maduro has control of the other states organs so the congress will disappear.

 

[NeOak]

And just when things in Columbia had a cease fire, we get this. I feel the ordinary people just trying to survive all this.

The District of Columbia had a cease fire?

 

[Aztechnology]

Why do nutso govts dig deeper after shit like this? Your days are numbered either way, call an election then stand down.

You're not only hurting your people, you're hurting the "movement" you supposedly stand for.

Fucking idiotic evil bastards. End it, you've fucked yourself, your country and movement.

That's what happens when a dictator begins to lose power. They have to continue to double down. Because they are so reviled they have to hold power as the alternative often results in losing everything, including their life. If you look at history in addition to megalomania it's driven by fear of the consequences of losing power because as you said they dug themselves too deep.

 

[elrechazado]

Colombia. This is the second time in less than 2 days that I have seen this.

Back on topic, situation is getting worse each day. But, sadly, this was expected. Maduro has control of the other states organs so the congress will disappear.

Why do this? Spanish is my first language, so should people correct me when I type estados unidos? Moscow is Moskva in Roman letter Russian. Germany is Deutschland.etc. but people always come out of the pedantic woodwork to decry Columbia. Christopher Columbus is cristobal colon. It's how it's spelled in English.

On topic: it's going to be scary to see how the military aligns itself going forward. Chavez was one of their own. How long will they follow the bus driver down this path?

 

[NeOak]

Why do this? Spanish is my first language, so should people correct me when I type estados unidos? Moscow is Moskva in Roman letter Russian. Germany is Deutschland.etc. but people always come out of the pedantic woodwork to decry Columbia. Christopher Columbus is cristobal colon. It's how it's spelled in English.

It's spelled Colombia.

https://travel.state.gov/content/passports/en/country/colombia.html

https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/colombia

Columbia is the district in the US.

Smh.

 

[CharminUltra]

I think Venezuela at this point it's waaaaaaaaaaaaaayyyy past worse

This is insane.

 

[Business]

"We are dying from hunger. Total dictatorship!!!!".

Hope it gets better for the poor folks over there.

 

[Rentahamster]

I don't believe that is the proper evolution of socialism that Marx envisioned.

 

[FriedConsole]

I don't believe that is the proper evolution of socialism that Marx envisioned.

Marx and other people who still believe it will work will always say "this is not what we want" when it is actually executed and falls into reality. They want to believe it can work and constant attempts were failures because of "execution" and outside forces working against it.

You used the word socialism and the word has apparently changed now. Somehow controlled capitalism of Scandinavia is now socialism instead of nationalizing industry like Venezuela which is what I was taught in school.

 

[Gaz_RB]

Why do this? Spanish is my first language, so should people correct me when I type estados unidos? Moscow is Moskva in Roman letter Russian. Germany is Deutschland.etc. but people always come out of the pedantic woodwork to decry Columbia. Christopher Columbus is cristobal colon. It's how it's spelled in English.

On topic: it's going to be scary to see how the military aligns itself going forward. Chavez was one of their own. How long will they follow the bus driver down this path?

Lol Colombia is just Colombia dude. Don't fight on that hill.

 

[Rentahamster]

You used the word socialism and the word has apparently changed now.

It depends whom you ask. I find that it's a combination of ignorance, and/or willful obfuscation in order to make a point.

 

[The Omega Man]

Marx and other people who still believe it will work will always say "this is not what we want" when it is actually executed and falls into reality. They want to believe it can work and constant attempts were failures because of "execution" and outside forces working against it.

You used the word socialism and the word has apparently changed now. Somehow controlled capitalism of Scandinavia is now socialism instead of nationalizing industry like Venezuela which is what I was taught in school.

It depends whom you ask. I find that it's a combination of ignorance, and/or willful obfuscation in order to make a point.

https://giant.gfycat.com/ZigzagDamagedBarracuda.webm

 

[KDR_11k]

Colombia. This is the second time in less than 2 days that I have seen this.

Probably confusion because some languages call it Columbia. E.g. in German the country is known as Kolumbien. Some people make translation mistakes like that.

 

[WAR recon zero]

It's spelled Colombia.

https://travel.state.gov/content/passports/en/country/colombia.html

https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/colombia

Columbia is the district in the US.

Smh.

people get so riled up from this shit.

do colombians correct germans when they say Kolumbien?

 

[Azuran]

people get so riled up from this shit.

do colombians correct germans when they say Kolumbien?

No because that's how you say it in German. It's colOmbia in English too so that comparison doesn't even make sense.

I bet you would get annoyed if you constantly saw UZA.

 

[Hari Seldon]

I was reading a lot of this is because Chavez went full idiot with socialism by seizing all of the private farming and therefore nothing is grown in Venezuela anymore. So now with their currency is in the shitter combined with the need to import lots of food, they are pretty fucked. Honestly it is time for international intervention because this is not going to get fixed without an internal military takeover or a bloody civil war.

 

[Ethelwulf]

Oh, they WILL my friend.

Not only people cant afford to properly feed themselves, even if people have money, they can't even find the most basic stuff 99% of the time

Machado, in case you are still searching somewhere to move out, have you looked into the possibility of moving to Mexico City? Lived there for 25 years and can tell you it is beautiful, safe and I personally met quite a few Venezuelans. Stay strong pana...

 

[Ahasverus]

Hey machado, what do you think could realistically happen to this? Does Maduro stand a chance to do this travesty?

people get so riled up from this shit.

do colombians correct germans when they say Kolumbien?

I'm in tears.

Please, carry on.

 

[Linkark07]

Why do this? Spanish is my first language, so should people correct me when I type estados unidos? Moscow is Moskva in Roman letter Russian. Germany is Deutschland.etc. but people always come out of the pedantic woodwork to decry Columbia. Christopher Columbus is cristobal colon. It's how it's spelled in English.

Official name of Colombia: República de Colombia. Either in English or Spanish it is called Colombia. Not the same case as Cristobal Colón.

 

[boiled goose]

Why do this? Spanish is my first language, so should people correct me when I type estados unidos? Moscow is Moskva in Roman letter Russian. Germany is Deutschland.etc. but people always come out of the pedantic woodwork to decry Columbia. Christopher Columbus is cristobal colon. It's how it's spelled in English.

On topic: it's going to be scary to see how the military aligns itself going forward. Chavez was one of their own. How long will they follow the bus driver down this path?

Huh? It's Colombia in both English and Spanish