Venezuela president not fazed by Trump threat
CONTROVERSIAL plans to rewrite Venezuela’s constitution will move ahead now more than ever following US President Donald Trump’s threat of economic sanctions, President Nicolas Maduro said.
Maduro, speaking yesterday to the country’s Defence Council, also said the government would launch a special emergency justice plan to capture anti-administration conspirators, who would then receive exemplary punishment.
The sharp words came after Trump warned on Monday of unspecified strong and swift economic actions against Venezuela if the July 30 Constituent Assembly election was held.
An unofficial plebiscite held by opponents of the leftist regime at the weekend saw 7.6 million voters – out of an electorate of 19 million – reject the planned Constituent Assembly and support early elections. The opposition, which controls the National Assembly, fears that Maduro’s plan is designed to keep the leftist administration in power indefinitely.
Trump slammed Maduro as a bad leader who dreamed of becoming a dictator, and said the United States would not stand by as Venezuela crumbled.
The United States and Venezuela have had decades of tense relations, dating back to the time of Hugo Chavez, Maduro’s mentor and predecessor who died in 2013.
Venezuelan Foreign Minister Samuel Moncada said Maduro had ordered a profound review of ties with Washington.
Neither country has had an ambassador in the other since 2010.
Maduro’s tough rhetoric comes ahead of a 24-hour nationwide strike planned for today, launching what the political opposition has called a final offensive to push him out of office.