News: Opposition

Venezuela Reforms National Anti-Terrorism Laws

Feb 4th 2012

Venezuela’s National Assemly passed the reformed law on Tuesday this week (CdO)

This past Tuesday, the Venezuelan National Assembly passed new legislation reforming the country’s laws on organised crime and terrorism. The legislation widens the number of crimes under its competence and also increases maximum sentences for offenses.

Opposition Candidate Leopold Lopez Withdraws from Primaries

Jan 25th 2012

Leopoldo Lopez (informecifras)

Leopoldo Lopez has withdrawn from the opposition presidential primaries, deferring his support to the current governor of Miranda state, Henrique Capriles Radonski.

Chavez Gives Annual Speech to the Nation, Announces New Security Mission

Jan 17th 2012

President Chavez highlighted the government’s success in hugely reducing poverty in Venezuela throughout the last 12 years (ps

Thousands of Venezuelans gathered outside the country's National Assembly (AN) on Saturday to hear President Chavez give his annual speech to the nation. Each year the Venezuelan president is obliged to give an "annual report" to the legislative body accounting for the management of his government and detailing its setbacks and achievements throughout the past year.

Former Colombian President Urges Venezuelan Opposition to Reject Chávez-Santos Rapprochement

Nov 28th 2011

Former Colombian president Alvaro Uribe met with various members of Venezuela’s opposition coalition, the Roundtable of Democr

Last Thursday, ex-Colombian president Alvaro Uribe urged the Venezuelan opposition to publically reject the burgeoning relationship between President Hugo Chávez and his Colombian counterpart, President Manuel Santos.

Protests against Student’s Expulsion from Venezuela’s Central University

Nov 27th 2011

Kevin Avila, an outspoken student activist who
supports President Chavez was expelled by the public university’s anti-Chavez

Kevin Avila was suspended from Venezuela's largest and most prestigious university on Thursday after UCV authorities accused him of participating in vaguely defined acts of violence.

Bank Owner Suing Venezuelan Government for US$ 1 Billion

Nov 15th 2011

A closed Banco Federal branch last year (archive).

Nelson Mezerhane, president of Banco Federal, which the Venezuelan government expropriated last year for failing to have minimum liquid assets, is suing the government through a US court, claiming the bank was “illegally seized for political reasons”.

Globovision Appeal of Venezuelan Telecom Fine Turns into Opposition Protest

Nov 8th 2011

Globovision offices (archive)

Yesterday opposition news channel Globovision went to the Administrative Dispute Court to appeal a large fine levied against it for inciting fear. Four opposition candidates arrived outside the court to “rally” to the channel’s political cause.

Venezuelan Opposition Primaries Candidates to Pay US$122,000 Each

Oct 26th 2011

The Democratic Unity Table (MUD) (Referencial)

Opposition members running in their primaries to select a presidential candidate must each pay Bs 525,000 (US$ 122,000) to their coalition in order to run.

Venezuelan Opposition TV Globovision Fined for Manipulation

Oct 19th 2011

Globovision offices (archive).

Venezuela’s National Telecommunications Council (CONATEL) imposed a US$ 2.16 million (Bs 9.3 million) penalty yesterday on right wing news station Globovision, equivalent to 7.5% of its gross income in 2010, for manipulation and causing fear with its coverage of the El Rodeo Prison hostage situation.

Venezuelan Opposition Politician Lopez Barred for Breaking the Law, Not for Politics

Oct 19th 2011

Leopoldo Lopez (archive).

Yesterday Venezuela’s Supreme Court (TSJ) declared a ruling by the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) “unenforceable”, thereby maintaining the prohibition against opposition figure Leopoldo Lopez from exercising public positions.

Caracazo Was “Forerunner” to Anti-Neoliberalism Protests, States Venezuela's Chávez

Oct 6th 2011

People taking to the streets during Venezuela’s “Caracazo” uprising (Achive)

Venezuela’s popular uprising of February 1989, known as ‘el Caracazo,’ “was a forerunner to what we are seeing in Europe, and in North America, (with) huge protests” against neoliberalism and the “Washington Consensus,” stated Venezuelan president Hugo Chávez, yesterday.

Venezuela Urges Extradition of Terrorist Posada Carriles from US

Sep 30th 2011

Cuban-born terrorist Luis Posada Carriles (Agencies).

On Monday, the Venezuelan Ministry of Public Affaire issued an additional request for the capture of known terrorist Luis Posada Carriles. While Venezuelan authorities are still waiting for the United States to act on a 2005 extradition request to try Carriles for his involvement in the 1976 downing of a commercial airliner, killing all 73 people on board, this week’s request comes alter Venezuelan prosecutors uncovered his role in, “acts of torture, violation of international laws, illegal detention and physical abuse of prisoners” during his time at the now defunct Directorate of Intelligence and Prevention Services (DISIP).

U.S. President Obama Nominates Chavez Critic for Top Latin America Post

Sep 29th 2011

Roberta Jacobson, Barack Obama’s nominee for Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs (Agencies)

This week, U.S. President Barack Obama announced his choice for the State Department’s top Latin America post. An outspoken critic of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, Obama’s nominee, Roberta Jacobson, recently told a U.S. Senate subcommittee that she was "particularly concerned" with the Venezuelan president.

Inter-American Court’s Ruling on Leopoldo Lopez “Means Nothing”, Says Chávez

Sep 19th 2011

The Inter-American Court of Human Rights this week backed opposition politician Leopoldo Lopez in his bid to stand as a candidat

Venezuela's president, Hugo Chávez, dismissed a ruling by the Inter-American Court of Human Rights (IACHR) this Saturday, after the body tried to override a decision by Venezuela’s judicial authorities to ban an opposition politician from holding public office.

Venezuela’s Chavez Enacts “Intervention” on Public Hospital in Opposition Stronghold

Sep 8th 2011

The San Cristobal General Hospital, located in the state of Tachira (YVKE Mundial).

On Wednesday Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez signed the formal “intervention” of one of the largest public hospitals in the opposition-governed state of Tachira.