The opposition said that it was Nicolas Maduro himself who pulled a coup after the National Electoral Council refused to recognize the first batch of signatures that they received in favor of a referendum, alleging that fraud was committed. In response, the parliament denounced the President, who is overseas for OPEC negotiations. For its part, the government says that the opposition is acting on behalf of the US, and it arrested opposition councilman José Vicente Garcia who they accuse of stockpiling body armor, grenades, and military uniforms in advance of a possible terrorist attack.
As the opposition intensifies its pressure against him to step down or be impeached and possibly overthrown, and the country’s political polarization reaches new extremes, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro is our MAN IN THE NEWS this week.
Andrew and Sergei speak to Sergei Oznobischev, Director, Institute of Strategic Assessment (studio guest), Victor Heifitz, Director, Centre for Ibero-American Studies at St. Petersburg State University,, Enrique R. Acedo, geopolitical observer and writer for Katehon Venezuela (Spain), and Ángel Ricardo Martínez, Geopolitical analyst (Panama).
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