Venezuela President Gets Rare Blast of Live TV Criticism

[Zorro]

Source: ABC News

President Nicolas Maduro first declared an economic emergency due to "catastrophic" inflation and growth figures and then endured the indignity of a nationally televised scolding from the head of a newly empowered opposition Congress.

Congress leader Henry Ramos wagged his finger inches from the president's head in a state-of-the-nation rebuttal that was broadcast live across the South American country Friday — unprecedented media access for an opponent of the country's socialist revolution.

Neither Maduro nor his predecessor, the late President Hugo Chavez, had ever contended with a hostile audience for a speech to Congress, but foes of the administration took control of the institution last week for the first time in 17 years, carried to victory on a wave of economic turmoil.

The government's Central Bank, which had kept key economic indicators to itself for more than a year, dumped a batch of new bad news earlier in the day.

Read more: http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/venezuela-president-rare-blast-live-tv-criticism-36328614

[jonno99]

1. I think this is the telling quote:

"... he defended an emergency declaration giving him 60 days to unilaterally enact sweeping decrees."

My (uneducated) guess, is that his "60 day emergency" will be stretched out for an indefinite period of time.

I hope I'm wrong though. I had some hope for Venezuela after the recent elections. Now, not so much...

[christx30]

2. And I could have sworn they did this

at least 2 years ago. A more friendly congress gave him emergency powers.

Yep. Found it. http://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052702303531204579208322842825640

Guess he couldn't make a square peg go into a round hole with those powers. Wonder what he plans to do this time.

[jonno99]

3. His plans? It looks like he will continue to follow the template of: blame everyone else and

claim that he could fix everything - but he needs more power...