24 May 2017 | 08:31 PM UTC
Venezuela: Protests after announcement of planned elections in July and December
National Constituent Assembly elections set for late July and regional elections scheduled for December 10; protests ensue in Caracas
Event
On Tuesday, May 23, the Venezuelan government announced that the election of the 540-member National Constituent Assembly will be held at the end of July 2017, without providing an exact date. The National Electoral Council (CNE) also announced that long-postponed elections for governors and regional legislative councils would be held on December 10. On Thursday, May 25, a meeting will be held to confirm the timetable for both elections.
On Wednesday, May 24, protesters barricaded streets in parts of Caracas in response to the announcement. Additional protests related to these developments are likely in the near-term.
Context
The National Constituent Assembly, whose creation was announced by President Nicolás Maduro to draft a new constitution, is viewed as a fraud by the opposition. They claim that the assembly is intended to be a distraction from meaningful elections and power grabs. The National Assembly, controlled by an opposition coalition, has been stripped of all its powers, which have been transferred to the presidency, the army, and the judicial system, all currently controlled by Maduro’s PSUV party.
For nearly two months, hundreds of thousands of demonstrators across the country have been denouncing a wide range of grievances as well as demanding general elections (including early presidential elections) be held in mass protests and marches, some of which have resulted in violent clashes with police and military forces. Venezuela has been devastated by a long series of progressively worsening crises affecting the restive country in recent months and years, including a breakdown of the democratic system, major shortages of gasoline, medications, food, and other basic necessities, an alarming spike in rates of violent crime, massive inflation and economic recession, and a resurgence of disease.
Advice
Individuals in Venezuela are advised to avoid all protests due to the likelihood of violence and closely monitor the situation.
