Fake News on Venezuela's Constituent Assembly

by Stephen Lendman (stephenlendman.org - Home - Stephen Lendman)

On August 18, State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert lied, calling Venezuela's constitutionally authorized Constituent Assembly a "power grab…designed to supplant the democratically-elected National Assembly with an authoritarian committee operating above the law."

A threat followed, Nauert saying "we are prepared to bring the full weight of American economic and diplomatic power to bear in support of the Venezuelan people as they seek to restore their democracy."

American-style "democracy" is tyranny by another name, government of the privileged few at the expense of the public welfare, puppet rule in other countries so Washington can control and exploit them.

Venezuela's Constituent Assembly reflects democracy in action. It's no power grab. Voters, not politicians, will have final say, on proposed constitutional changes by national referendum, the same process used to establish the Bolivarian Republic under Hugo Chavez.

Media scoundrels support America's predatory agenda, notably The New York Times, a virtual privatized ministry of propaganda.

It blasted Venezuela's Constituent Assembly, saying it "nullifies the opposition-led legislature…supercedes (it), a decisive step in the quest by Mr. Maduro's allies to dismantle the country's legislature…"

According to the neocon/CIA-connected Washington Post, "Venezuela's new pro-government Constituent Assembly formally moved Friday to assume the powers of the opposition-dominated congress, completing what critics call a power grab that effectively puts all branches of government under the control of President Nicolas Maduro."

WaPo quoted an anti-Bolivarian social democracy opposition tweet, saying "(t)he Constituent Assembly is null, and its acts are illegal and unconstitutional."

Here's what happened on Friday. Constituent Assembly members approved a decree to let the constitutionally-permitted body legislate on national security issues.

CA president/former foreign minister Delcy Rodriguez said it'll be empowered to enact legislation relating to "preservation of peace, security, sovereignty, the socio-economic and financial system."

"We will give a historical lesson to the Venezuelan right-wing…We are not going to allow the Venezuelan future to be compromise."

The fascist opposition-controlled National Assembly contemptuously ignored a July 2016 Supreme Court order, swearing in three legislators accused of voter fraud - preventing the Maduro government from approving oil and gas deals with foreign companies, requiring parliamentary approval.

Opposition dark forces boycotted the July 30 electoral process establishing the Constituent Assembly, staging violent protests. As a result, Bolivarian social democracy supporters largely comprise the body.

Its leadership urged coordination with National Assembly members to revise or rewrite the constitution, along with ending street violence and restoring order.

Instead of agreeing to work together cooperatively, the fascist opposition boycotted a Friday meeting. CA members addressed vital issues, affecting the nation's welfare on their own, given no other choice.

The opposition-controlled National Assembly continues to operate. It was not dissolved or stripped of its credentials, Rodriguez stressed, adding the CA "is obligating (parliamentarians) to coexist" with the other branches of government."

"They can't use this space to promote coups" or otherwise undermine democratic governance.

Venezuela's Foreign Ministry condemned hostile US criticism of "sovereign (CA) decisions," saying they demonstrate "a new act of interference in Venezuelan internal affairs by the US administration in violation of the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations and of the norms of international law."

It blasted media scoundrel disinformation, "promot(ing) the destabilization of the nation."

It stressed unacceptable US "aggressions, which clearly detract from the principles governing peaceful relations and the spirit of dialogue and political understanding which must prevail among States."

It criticized interference by other nations in Venezuela's internal affairs, challenging its sovereignty.

Former chief Venezuelan prosecutor Luisa Ortega was replaced for attempting to halt the Constituent Assembly's inauguration by court order, a one-time Bolivarian loyalist now turncoat.

WaPo quoted her deplorably calling the CA "the birth of a dictatorship." Shamefully she refused to support its democratic process, shifting allegiance to dark forces in Washington and internally.

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