Venezuela Suspends Recall Referendum Against Maduro
Electoral authorities in Venezuela suspended a recall campaign against President Nicolás Maduro on October 22 following a series of court judgements that questioned the recall referendum process. The National Electoral Council (CNE) announced in a statement that: “In adherence to the constitution, the National Electoral Council abides by the decisions ordered by the tribunals and has sent instructions to postpone the process of signature gathering until new judicial instructions are known.”
The ruling comes after courts in four Venezuelan states voided the results of an earlier signature drive due to fraud allegations.
“There won’t be a referendum, and with the support of the constitution, we won’t allow them to try to cheat our people again,” pro-Maduro governor Francisco Rangel said in a Twitter post.
The Venezuelan opposition, which was prepared to gather signatures from 20 percent of the electorate next week in order to activate the recall vote, swiftly condemned the ruling. “Maduro has declared himself in disobedience, he doesn’t respect the constitution, he abandoned the country today and is headed towards abandoning it completely!” Henrique Capriles, an opposition leader, wrote on his Twitter account.
Other opposition politicians called on Venezuelans to take the streets. “This dictatorship will not grant us anything, we have to achieve change in peace, democracy, and—above all—in the street,” Leopoldo López, opposition leader and political prisoner, said.
The move thwarts the opposition-led National Assembly’s efforts to oust President Maduro, who is struggling with a crumbling economy and public discontent. Amid soaring prices and widespread shortages, the government’s decision increases the likelihood of social unrest.
Days after the announcement, the National Assembly convened a special congressional meeting in which they called to put Maduro on trial for violating the country’s constitution. For now, the future remains unclear as the opposition continues to develop alternative solutions to counteract Maduro’s increasing power.