What Happened Last Week in Venezuela? đ Alex Saab Is Exchanged For Prisoners
Alex Saab is exchanged for around 30 prisoners and the TSJ receives the case on MarĂa Corina's ban
Merry Christmas to all the Venezuela Weekly readers đ đâïžâïžđđŠ May baby Jesus bring peace and joy to your hearts and families.
Christmas Gift Exchange
The United States released Colombian businessman Alex Saab, alleged crony of NicolĂĄs Maduro who was in custody in Miami, in exchange for 10 US citizens who were imprisoned in Venezuela, the fugitive from US justice Fat Leonard and at least 19 Venezuelan political prisoners.
Venezuelan political prisoners include the six union leaders sentenced to prison for 16 years in August: Alcides Bracho, Alonso MelĂ©ndez, Emilio NegrĂn, Gabriel Blanco, NĂ©stor Astudillo and Reynaldo CortĂ©s. Also to the student of the Central University of Venezuela, John Ălvarez, and the director of the electoral NGO SĂșmate, Roberto AbdĂșl â who helped organize the opposition primaries.
âLooks good,â said President Joe Biden, âIt looks like Maduro, so far, is keeping his commitment on a free election. It ainât done yet. Got a long way to go. But itâs good so far.â Saab was released with a presidential pardon that can be rescinded if Saab violates the conditions: $12 million given to the DEA will not be returned, the pardon applies to only one case (so he can technically be charged for another 2021 case), and he cannot benefit from deals related to Netflix series or books.
Saab later received a hero's welcome in Caracas. Venezuela said its âdiplomatâ was âkidnappedâ by the United States and had been âtortured.â Saab thanked Maduro and Cilia Flores, who received him at the airport, while Maduro thanked Gerardo Blyde and the Emir of Qatar. Jorge RodrĂguez later announced that Ălex Saab formally joined the regime's negotiating delegation. Qatar also confirmed that it is conducting a âbroad mediation,â which achieved an exchange of prisoners, for the United States and Venezuela to address âpending issues.â
The same night of the release, the Political-Administrative Chamber of the Supreme Tribunal of Justice (TSJ) agreed to notify the Office of the Comptroller General of the Republic so that within a period of three continuous days counted from its notification it could proceed to share information on MarĂa Corina Machadoâs ban from running for office. At Christmas, the website of the Political-Administrative Chamber revealed that the TSJ received an administrative file on the ban. It must rule on the admission of appeals and precautionary protection requested by Machado. Alex Saab in exchange for a lift on MarĂa Corinaâs ban?
It's the economy, stupid!
After signing an agreement, Petroquiriquire â the joint company of PDVSA (60%) and the Spanish oil company Repsol (40%)â was reactivated in the state of Monagas
On December 18, public education workers protested in downtown Caracas demanding the payment of food tickets.
Exports from Venezuela to Colombia increased 53% this year, according to the director of the Procolombia office in Venezuela, Carlos Luna. They went from
$66 million dollars to $92 million. âOne of the objectives is that large Colombian companies can ally with Venezuelan businessmen to produce in Venezuela to serve the market for Colombian products,â said Luna.The Ministry of Ecosocialism announced a population control plan for vultures in the Las Mayas landfill in Caracas: the increase in garbage, from 1200 tons of garbage in January to 2100 tons today, "speaks also of the economic recovery of the country," the minister said.
See you in early January and have a happy new year!