Venezuela: Old parliament vs. a new assembly
Venenzuela's old parliament, the National Assembly, is defending itself against disempowerment. The opposition has had the majority in the assembly since its election victory at the beginning of 2016. Now its delegates have declared the constituent assembly appointed by President Maduro after the referendum illegal. What is behind the unrest in this oil-rich country?
Latin America's class war
Imperial powers are at work in Venezuela, Birgün suspects:
“In this war the oligarchy is on one side and the Bolivarian left is on the other. It is the latest of a string of US-backed uprisings of the right against left-wing governments in Latin America. ... This conflict is about how to divide up the country's riches, and above all the oil revenues. The right-wing opposition, however, is trying to present the conflict as a fight for freedom and democracy. ... This is the counter-revolutionary resistance of the US-backed Venezuelan oligarchy together with the Catholic Church, businessmen, big landowners and the right-wing opposition against the 21st-century socialism set up by Chávez.”
The people's hunger could seal Maduro's fate
The economic chaos could be dangerous for President Nicolas Maduro, believes Savon Sanomat:
“The children of the once-rich oil state are suffering from malnutrition. There are food and medicine shortages and the high inflation has pushed prices to exorbitant levels. Meanwhile the super-rich are celebrating and the drug trade is booming. ... The US has imposed economic sanctions on Venezuela. The EU, the UN and numerous nation states have criticised Maduro's policies. But this will barely have any effect on him. What might topple him, however, is the hunger of the people. Hunger has toppled many a leader who caused chaos in the name of socialism.”