The list of US sanctions against Venezuela is growing. Doubts about their effectiveness persist. Washington on Monday blacklisted seven MPs accused of participating in "The unsuccessful attempt to take control of parliament", whose Luis Parra, recently invested president of the National Assembly with the approval of the executive. The press release from the treasury secretary states that "The sanctions could be lifted if the deputies sided with the Venezuelan people and Juan Guaido", the opposition leader Washington supports.
In Caracas, Nicolas Maduro, apparently very self-assured, took stock of the past year. "The Empire tried to tie us up, but it failed down the line," launched the president, to the applause of the audience present. For the third consecutive year. Maduro delivered his annual speech to the Constituent Assembly, which he unanimously agreed to, and not to Parliament as required by the current Constitution. Mr. Maduro called Mr. Guaido "Miserable lackey".
"Inviolable pillar of democracies"
Held by the opposition since 2015, deprived of any real power by the judiciary, the National Assembly remains an essential issue. On January 5, MP Luis Parra was elected president at the end of an extremely confused session and in the absence of the acting president, Mr. Guaido, who was detained outside the building by police checks. A member of the opposition, Mr. Parra was expelled from his original party in December 2019 for corruption.
Denouncing a "Parliamentary coup", the opposition deputies then met on the premises of a daily to re-elect Mr. Guaido who, for the past year, has claimed to be "acting president" of Venezuela. Besides the United States, the majority of Latin American and European countries recognize it as such. Mexico and Argentina, which fail to do so and try to remain neutral in the Venezuelan crisis, have openly criticized the events of January 5. "The legitimate functioning of the legislative power is an inviolable pillar of democracies", recalls the press release from the Mexican government.
Legislative elections are due to take place this year. The election date has not yet been set. Already the opposition – which would like a presidential election – is torn to decide if it should participate. Nicolas Maduro invited Tuesday "The European Union, the United Nations General Secretariat, the African Union and all international organizations to come and see how the people of Venezuela, a free people, elect their new national assembly". Only the Organization of American States (OAS), of which the United States is a member, is not welcome, said the head of state. "After successfully breaking up the opposition, Caracas tries to divide the international community", sighs a diplomat from the region.
