Boycotts, violence mar Venezuela vote
Protests leave as many as 12 dead as president seeks a special assembly that opponents say will threaten nation’s democracy
“We’ve stoically withstood the terrorist, criminal violence. Hopefully the world will extend its arms toward our country.”
President Nicolás Maduro
President Nicolás Maduro pushed ahead Sunday with the controversial vote for a powerful constitutional assembly amid protests that left a dozen people dead, according to opposition officials who led a massive boycott of the polls.
The beleaguered South American nation is electing members to the new assembly that would rewrite the country’s 1999 constitution and possibly create a single-party, authoritarian system.
Julio Borges, president of the opposition-led National Assembly, said only 7% of the electorate had voted — a silent protest of Maduro’s power grab that would slam the brakes on democracy. A midday check of 10 polling places in the capital showed most of them empty or nearly empty.
“Venezuela has screamed with its silence,” said Borges, who put the day’s death toll at 12. The public prosecutor’s office confirmed nine deaths.
Maduro’s vision of a new constitution to consolidate his power has drawn ire in Washington. Last week, the Trump administration imposed sanctions on 13 senior Venezuelan officials, and the White House and some congressman said stiffer sanctions could follow. Mexico said it would support U.S. sanctions, and the Organization of American States and the European Parliament have expressed support for the opposition.
Opposition leaders refused to put up candidates, arguing the election has been structured to ensure that Maduro’s ruling socialist party dominates. Thus virtually all the more than 5,000 candidates for 545 assembly seats are Maduro supporters.
The opposition vowed to protest despite a ban on public gath- erings. In some parts of the capital, people took to the streets in protest, but they were repelled by security forces armed with tear gas.
Opinion polls indicated more than two-thirds of the nation opposed the president’s efforts, and voting at many polling places was light. The opposition says the government was so afraid of low turnout that it threatened to fire state workers who don’t vote and take away social benefits like subsidized food from recipients who stay away from the polls.
“I’m here because I’m hoping for housing,” admitted hairdresser Luisa Marquez, 46, as she wait- ed in line to vote.
Maduro has struggled with a rapidly deteriorating economy and strengthening political opposition. Some voters said they believed the new assembly might improve life in Venezuela.
“I’m voting today because I want peace to be restored,” said seamstress Carmen Martinez, 44. “I’m going to have hope, but I doubt this could solve” the nation’s economic problems, she said.
Months of violence leading up to the vote showed little signs of ending. Local media reported that a leading assembly candidate and an opposition activist were killed before voting even began.
Maduro has denied links to violent paramilitaries that have run roughshod across the country, blaming the opposition for violence that has left more than 100 people dead. Maduro himself voted with little fanfare early in the morning.
“We’ve stoically withstood the terrorist, criminal violence,” Maduro said. “Hopefully the world will extend its arms toward our country.”