More Reasons For Venezuelans To Vote
Venezuela has a unicameral congress in which last month, 112 opposition representatives—including the first transgender person in Latin America to hold public office—were sworn in. On Dec. 6, the opposition’s coalition party, MUD (Roundtable of Democratic Unity) had a historic victory by gaining two thirds of the seats of the National Assembly controlled by the socialist party, for the past 17 years.
Two thirds of the seats in the assembly entail a direct threat to the regime. The “qualified majority” could vote to pursue constitutional reforms such as the reestablishment of the eight year limit for a president to hold office, removing and appointing Supreme Court Justices and National Electoral Center officials, and convene for a recall referendum to revoke the presidency of Nicolas Maduro.
The executive’s response included the desperate effort to void the new assembly’s action by a Supreme Court precautionary measure, claiming irregularities took place in the electoral process of four members of parliament.
However, missing the final ruling of the SC, the National Assembly, voted against Maduro’s order to declare a state of economic emergency. Which would have served to empower the extent of the failed centrally-planned model, with the sole purpose of reducing the opposition’s control over the legislative branch.
As alarming as it is, finding basic goods such as bread, milk, and sugar is a part of the quest for Venezuelans. The other part is finding the fortune to pay the resellers’ prices.
This makes the social scene deteriorate heavily as Venezuelan censured media conveys the exact opposite message. Yet, the public regardless of its political standing, seems too busy waiting in five-hour lines to read the paper. Every day more citizens realize the point of humiliation the greedy and cold blooded regime has encouraged them to tolerate.
The situation for Venezuelans will most likely worsen in the upcoming months. Although it is reaching a critical point, it certainly feels like the country is on the verge of a revolt. The low standard of living, created by the scarcity, along with the high crime rates, and Maduro’s government imposing unsustainable socialism, are making the citizenry awaken from their 17-year long slumber.
Congress recently opened the discussion for an amnesty bill that proposes the liberation of political prisoners. Also, decentralizing police forces to reduce crime, protecting salaries from inflation, investigating and preventing corruption in government, among many others, are on the agenda for the opposition legislators.
This year, Venezuelans are prone to real change and much of what we can do from abroad is registering to vote in the country we reside. My situation resembles that of many others who have fled Venezuela in hope of a better future. Certainly, the United States has provided mine and many other Venezuelan families the opportunity to thrive. As important as it is to vote in this year’s primary and presidential elections here in the United States, it is equally as important that those who can register in their consulates do so because Venezuelans abroad can vote in a recall referendum.
