What Happened Last Week in Venezuela? The Anti-Fascist Fascist Law
A new anti-fascist law, the Machado-Rosales divide grows and Venezuela has more than 4M entrepreneurs.
Orwellian laws
The 2020 National Assembly approved the Law against fascism and neo-fascism in its first discussion. A second discussion is needed for it to become law. The bill has been strongly criticized by organized civil society and the political opposition, since its articles 14-17 allow the dissolution of NGOs and political parties, in addition to the prohibition of access to public positions (bans from running for office), for promoting, doing apology or adopting positions that the law considers fascist or neo-fascist. However, the definition of “fascism” and “neofascism” is arbitrary: for example, it considers “neoliberalism” and “moral conservatism” as common features of fascism. Also, article 11 prohibits the dissemination or dissemination of messages that “denigrate democracy, its institutions and republican values,” which could censor institutional criticism and those who point out problems with the legitimacy of Venezuelan institutions.
Also, the Domestic Policy Commission of the Assembly approved a report for second discussion of the “anti-society” bill, which seeks to regularize and even close NGOs in Venezuela and has been criticized by the social sector. It now contains 39 items. When it was approved in the first discussion, it contained only 18.
Both bills have been interpreted as new tools for repression in an election year. In fact, Delcy Rodríguez –when presenting the law against fascism– compared María Corina Machado's “hasta el final” with Adolfo Hitler's “final solution.”
In fact, repression continues to escalate. This week, a group of SEBIN officials raided the home of the parents of journalist Orlando Avendaño, exiled in Colombia. Jorge Rodríguez, president of the Assembly, had already pointed out a tweet by Avendaño where he celebrated Machado's movement as “insurrectionist.” Also, Venezuelan YouTuber Oscar Alejandro was detained at the Maiquetía national airport and accused of activities related to terrorism for a video in which he made a joke about dynamiting a building. Alexander was released the next day.
According to the NGO Foro Penal, 15 people have been detained for political reasons so far in 2024. These new arrests occurred after the agreement with the United States that allowed the release of Alex Saab in exchange for twenty Venezuelan political prisoners.
In fact, Machado –in a letter to the Prime Minister of Norway– warned that she could be arbitrarily detained by the government of Nicolás Maduro. However, according to Bloomberg, the Venezuelan government will provide safe passage to Machado's collaborators who are sheltered in the Argentine Embassy in Caracas.
The Rosales-Machado divide grows
The CNE admitted all presidential candidacies that were allowed to register, including those of Manuel Rosales and Edmundo González Urrutia. Also, he rehabilitated the Movement for Venezuela card: one of the parties of the Unitary Platform, which supported Rosales' candidacy. However, the opposition remains divided after the blocking of the registration of Corina Yoris and the surprise registration of Rosales.
“I did make a proposal to María Corina. Not only to her, to all parties and sectors. This is no longer my task. I don't want to be a candidate to be second. The [party] cards and the candidacy are with a little bow on the table, I hope they do not call for abstention. What happens becomes your responsibility," said Manuel Rosales. Shortly after, María Corina Machado said that “trust cannot be given away even if you put little bows on it.”
Pressure from Chavismo’s allies grow
International pressure for free elections in Venezuela, including from actors close to Chavismo, continues to grow. “Mrs. María Corina Machado, and others, were disqualified from participating in electoral processes by administrative authorities. It is a problem,” said Colombian President Gustavo Petro, “It is undoubtedly an undemocratic coup.” The president of Mexico, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, also asked that Venezuelans be allowed to vote “freely so they can choose.”
The Secretary of State of Norway, the country that mediates the negotiations between Chavismo and the opposition, visited Caracas and met with Foreign Minister Yván Gil, with the chief negotiator of the opposition Gerardo Blyde and with the coordinator of the Unitary Platform Omar Barboza.
Meanwhile, the president of the CNE Elvis Amoroso reported that the European Union's exploration mission, which will define whether or not to send an electoral observation mission in July, arrived in Venezuela on Sunday. Foreign Minister Gil also said that technical teams from the Carter Center and the UN panel of experts will come before the end of April. The missions are contemplated in the Barbados agreements.
Crude nation
Petroindependencia –a joint venture of PDVSA and Chevron– activated the first of 17 new generation wells that it plans to install this year in the Orinoco Belt as part of the 'Drilling Plan 2024'.
Meanwhile, the di Korsou refinery – designed for Venezuelan crude oil– in Curaçao reopens after five years of closure to receive oil from Venezuela due to the easing of sanctions. There are negotiations underway to find foreign companies that want to reinvest in its reactivation.
Country of entrepreneurs
A joint study by the Andrés Bello Catholic University (UCAB) and the Institute of Higher Administration Studies (IESA) found that the entrepreneurship rate continues to grow in Venezuela: 4.7 million people in Venezuela qualify as entrepreneurs – 1.7 million more than previously The 2022 survey showed. According to the study, 91% of entrepreneurs' main motivation is to earn a living, 97% of these businesses have no or low technological level and have a high mortality rate mainly due to lack of access to financing.
Two Venezuelans in the World Press Awards
Two Venezuelans were awarded at the World Press Photo Awards, photojournalism’s most prestigious worldwide: Adriana Loureiro Fernández, with "Red Skies, Green Waters", and Alejandro Cegarra with "The Two Walls".
Corruption International
Two people were arrested in Spain in the police operation that was carried out this Friday against the money laundering of people linked to Venezuela and in which four raids were carried out in luxury areas in Madrid. One of those detained is José Roberto Rincón Bravo, who is accused of diverting and laundering more than $1 billion from PDVSA.
The Image
This picture from TankTrackers show tankers currently in Venezuela, disguising their location through AIS spoofing: a way of evading sanctions.
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