Venezuela Developments, July 2013

Political Issues

Bipartisan Group of Senators Introduce Resolution Supporting Democracy in Venezuela, Condemning Violence against Political Opposition
August 1, 2013 (US Senate Committee on Foreign Relations <http://t.ymlp207.net/bqavausmjhaaawsaiausq/click.php> )
Following Venezuela's highly contested presidential elections and in response to growing political polarization, sporadic acts of violence against political opposition members, and an absence of political dialogue, a bipartisan group of senators introduced a resolution supporting Venezuelan democracy, and condemning violence and intimidation against the country's political opposition. The resolution was introduced by U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez (D-NJ), Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman, and Sens. Rubio (R-FL), Nelson (D-FL), Kaine (D-VA), Udall (D-NM), McCain (R-AZ) and Kirk (R-IL).

Poll shows 45.1% of Venezuelans would vote Capriles
July 31, 2013 (El Universal <http://t.ymlp207.net/byazausmjhaoawsalausq/click.php> )
Regardless of the outcome of the presidential election held in Venezuela last April 14, a survey conducted by the Venezuelan Data Analysis Institute (IVAD), Government Management, and Political Situation, showed that 45.1% of Venezuelans would vote Henrique Capriles over 39.3% who said would vote Nicolas Maduro. Meanwhile, some 15.7% of Venezuelans did not make up their minds or did not answer to the question.

Capriles: Richard Mardo is not an offender
July 29, 2013 (El Universal <http://t.ymlp207.net/hsaxausmjhatawsaaausq/click.php> )
In solidarity with opposition Deputy Richard Mardo, who faces charges for suspected tax evasion and money laundering, Venezuelan opposition Governor Henrique Capriles said on Monday that Mardo has not committed any offense, and stressed that he was just set up a trap.

Recent Poll
July 28, 2013 (Noticiero Digital <http://t.ymlp207.net/huarausmjhatawsafausq/click.php> )
According to a recent poll conducted by Varianzas, if April 14 election were held today 50 percent of the electorate would support Henrique Capriles and 44,6 percent would vote Nicolas Maduro.

Venezuela Gov't Targets Newspaper Editor
July 28, 2013 (by The Associated Press, Miami Herald <http://t.ymlp207.net/heaaausmjhafawsaiausq/click.php> )
Venezuela's chief prosecutor said she has asked a court to freeze the assets of the editor of one of the country's two major opposition newspapers. El Nacional editor Miguel Henrique Otero called the move an attack on freedom of expression in statements published Sunday.

Chasing after Deputy Mardo
July 20, 2013 (El Universal)
Without referring to the "little" detail about holding charges against a deputy of the Republic, based on a forged proof and another one: a manipulated one, government representatives forge steadily onwards in its desire to eliminate Richard Mardo's parliamentarian immunity, in a crusade that president of the Comptroller's Commission, Pedro Carreño, has taken quite seriously.

Maduro Attacks Opposition's Governors
July 9, 2013 (by Antonio Maria Delgado, El Nuevo Herald <http://t.ymlp207.net/hmaaausmjhavawsaaausq/click.php> )

Carter Center Issues Report on Venezuela Election
July 3, 2013 (by The Carter Center <http://t.ymlp207.net/hjalausmjhacawsatausq/click.php> )
The Carter Center released a preliminary report on Venezuela's April 14, 2013, special presidential elections recommending electoral reforms to ensure greater campaign equity, increased efforts to improve the electoral climate for voters, and more information about the effectiveness of the biometric identification system and procedures to prevent usurpation of voter identity and multiple voting.

Why Venezuela Offers Asylum to Snowden
July 7, 2013 (by Mary Anastasia O'Grady, The Wall Street Journal <http://t.ymlp207.net/hbapausmjhanawsarausq/click.php> )
Mr. Maduro offered asylum to the fugitive, who was running out of prospects. Nicaragua and Bolivia have chimed in with similar offers. What plans are afoot to spirit Mr. Snowden from his Moscow airport sanctuary—assuming he accepts refuge in Latin America—are of course secret.
Economic and Social Issues

Over USD 180 million sold at SICAD's auction
July 31, 2013 (by Mayela Armas, El Universal <http://t.ymlp207.net/hhatausmjhaaawsacausq/click.php> )
The official amount will be disclosed by the Central Bank of Venezuela later.

SICAD fails to meet companies' urgent need for US dollars
July 29, 2013 (by Roberto Deniz, El Universal <http://t.ymlp207.net/hwalausmjhafawsarausq/click.php> )
Jorge Roig, the president of the Venezuelan Federation of Trade and Industry Chambers (FEDECAMARAS), stressed that the Ancillary Foreign Currency Administration System (SICAD) "is raising expectations impossible to fulfill." Just like other entrepreneurs, Roig believes that the amount of foreign currency put up for sale is not enough to supply the market.

Maduro's First 100 Days in Office: A Hundred Days of Demagogy and Incompetence
July 29, 2013 (Statement by the Democratic Unity Platform <http://t.ymlp207.net/hqazausmjhanawsaiausq/click.php> )
Since Nicolas Maduro was sworn as President, 4200 murders have been committed, a large number of jobs have been eliminated, Venezuela's food shortages have been worsening.

Nicolas' First 100 Days in Office
July 29, 2013 (Noticiero Digitial <http://t.ymlp207.net/hyarausmjhaoawsakausq/click.php> )
According to Congressman Julio Borges, more than a 1000 protests have taken place since Nicolas Maduro was sworn as President: 569 workers' protests; 390 protests related to the housing crisis; 265 protests demanding greater political rights.

Venezuelans believe SICAD will not meet US dollar demand July 22, 2013 (El Universal <http://t.ymlp207.net/wsadausmjhaxawsalausq/click.php> )
A survey conducted by daily newspaper El Universal found that 90% of individuals think the alternative mechanism is discretionary and foreign currencies are insufficient.

Venezuelan Inflation Surges
July 9, 2013 (by Ezequiel Minaya, The Wall Street Journal <http://t.ymlp207.net/wuakausmjhaiawsaoausq/click.php> ) Inflation in Venezuela reached a new milestone Tuesday: Prices measured on a yearly basis are now rising at the fastest rate since the late President Hugo Chávez took power in 1999 and upended this oil-rich nation's politics and economy.

Venezuela to boost dollar supplies through forex system revamp
July 3, 2013 (By Brian Ellsworth and Eyanir Chinea, Reuters <http://t.ymlp207.net/weaxausmjhapawsazausq/click.php> )
Venezuela on Wednesday revamped a currency exchange system to boost the flow of dollars into the economy and ease nagging product shortages, a move that further devalues the local currency and may aggravate spiraling inflation.
Social Actions

Venezuela's Ferrominera comes to a halt amid militarization
July 25, 2013 (El Universal <http://t.ymlp207.net/wmaaausmjhazawsafausq/click.php> )
A group of workers with Venezuelan state-owned iron company CVG Ferrominera on Thursday blocked both the gate seven and the railways leading to the plant, in rejection of the militarization of the firm on Wednesday evening.

University Crisis in Venezuela. Violence, Financial Encirclement, and Infiltration
July 9, 2013 (by Trino Márquez <http://t.ymlp207.net/wjaoausmjhacawsapausq/click.php> )
A month ago, the Federation of University Teachers Associations of Venezuela (FAPUV) went on an indefinite hunger strike. Then three weeks ago, another twenty teachers and students started their own hunger strike. Despite protests and national support, the government does not even bother with dialogue.

Venezuelan university workers take to the streets
July 2, 2013 (by David Smilde, The Christian Science Monitor <http://t.ymlp207.net/wbagausmjhaaawsavausq/click.php> )
University faculty in Venezuela began protesting their low wages with a series of strikes dating back to February. The university system has expanded rapidly over the past 14 years.