Embattled Venezuelan president calls for new constitution

[Eugene]

Source: Associated Press

CARACAS, Venezuela — Venezuela’s increasingly embattled president called Monday for a new constitution as an intensifying protest movement entered a second month with clashes between police and anti-government demonstrators.

After hundreds of thousands took to the streets again to call for his ouster, President Nicolas Maduro announced that he was calling for a citizens assembly and a new constitution for the economically flailing South American nation. He said the move was needed to restore peace and stop his political opponents from trying to carry out a coup.

Opposition leaders immediately objected, charging that Maduro was seeking to further erode Venezuela’s constitutional order. Maduro was expected to later give more details about his plan, which is likely to ratchet up tensions even more in a country already on edge.

Many people expect the socialist administration to give itself the power to pick a majority of delegates to a constitutional convention. Maduro could then use the writing of a new constitution as an excuse to put off regional elections scheduled for this year and presidential elections that were to be held in 2018, political analyst Luis Vicente Leon said.

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Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/the_americas/rival-marches-in-venezuela-to-oppose-back-government/2017/05/01/4f70b8dc-2e89-11e7-a335-fa0ae1940305_story.html?utm_term=.cc16d6b48e2d

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By Hannah Dreier | AP May 1 at 8:06 PM

[NobodyHere]

1. Socialist Paradise!

[Plucketeer]

2. Donnie Tiny-Hands

He's gotta have an ear out for how this goes!

[EX500rider]

3. The new "President For Life Constitution" I assume...

[christx30]

4. He wants to totally rewrite the constitution

just to keep himself in a job? That's selfish as hell. He wants peace? He needs to step down.

[Maxheader]

5. I swear

to you. Qick glance.. thought it read..'American'.

[Archae]

6. Donchu know? Hollywood is to blame!

Well, NewsMax says so...

https://www.democraticunderground.com/10028997356

[geek tragedy]

7. "Maduro" is Spanish for "Trump" nt

[irisblue]

11. That is good.

[Bacchus4.0]

8. The government wants to avoid having elections since they will lose n

[Bayard]

9. Don't give Rump ideas!

He already wants to re-write our own Constitution, throw out the first amendment. Plus re-write Senate rules.

Our founding fathers were wise to create this document, providing for 3 separate, equal branches of government. No man will be king. No mere man can change what he doesn't like.

[irisblue]

10. So when will trump invite this authoritarian?

[Sunlei]

13. to late for USA, Russia will take over any resourses to sell to South America.

[Blue_Tires]

12. I saw some of the usual hammer-and-sickle suspects on Twitter

are already getting their "staged CIA coup" -talking points out in circulation...