Violent protests continue in Venezuela after president calls for constitutional assembly.

AutorGaudin, Andres

Facing an unmanageable domestic situation that is being exacerbated by violent street clashes between pro- and anti-government supporters, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro took the surprising and disconcerting step on May 1 of calling for an Asamblea Nacional Constituyente (National Constitutional Assembly, ANC). Once gathered, the body would institutionalize the presence in the state apparatus of certain pro-government sectors of society and draft a new Constitution.

The governing Partido Socialista Unido de Venezuela (United Socialist Party of Venezuela, PSUV) hoped in this way to gain some political breathing room and at the same time quiet the protests that have routinely filled roads, streets, and avenues, and have been accompanied, in recent weeks, by a wave of lootings, attacks on public offices, and other senseless acts of violence. The ANC plan is meant, it would seem, to benefit the government. But the immediate impact of the announcement was something Maduro and his allies probably didn't anticipate: It unified the opposition.

The unicameral Asamblea Nacional (National Assembly), one of the three branches of government (together with the president) authorized to reform the Constitution, rejected the proposal and announced that it will respond to "this dictatorial idea with a new phase" of actions to pressure the government. The multi-party opposition coalition Mesa de la Unidad Democratica (Democratic Unity Roundtable, MUD) has been slow to act, however.

It wasn't until June 17, during a gathering of Unidos en la Fe (United in Faith), an event sponsored by the Catholic Church, that opposition lawmaker Freddy Guevara finally offered some clues about what the "new phase" would entail.

"The mobilizations with street occupations will continue. The pressure will continue," said Guevara, a member of Voluntad Popular (Popular Will), the most radical of the opposition parties.

"In due time, we'll make announcements so that everyone is informed about how we'll handle the final step, which will be permanent protest. We'll be everywhere, all together and all at the same time, to bring about change."

Neighborhood gatherings

In a decree containing just two articles and in statements made later, Maduro indicated that the ANC would be made up of 545 delegates. Two thirds are to be elected in the "territorial area" (in the country's 335 municipalities) with the other third coming from organized social sectors: community groups, community...

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