We are witnessing the collapse of international law under the blows of American unilateralism and the propaganda of humanitarian organizations and Western media. Admittedly, inflation reached record highs in Venezuela but not at the level announced by the main stream press. The rate of 1.3 million% brandi, a little strong coffee, reflects a reality (that of the collapse of purchasing power) increased by market propaganda. The threshold of 10 million% is soon reached, it is said?
Poverty is shouting a Canadian newspaper is worried that this train, the rich do not lack toilet paper. But, let us not forget, the Venezuelan slump comes largely from American sanctions. Uncle Sam’s decision to ban trade with this country has resulted in a gradual weakening.
Rather than simply waiting for the fruit to ripen, America, which has certainly benefited from previous embargoes against Fidel Castro’s Cuba, Saddam Hussein’s Iraq and Zimbabwe’s Robert Mugabe, has accompanied measures of trade restrictions through open support for the democratic opposition. This is the first time in the history of international relations to see an opponent, president of Parliament, proclaim himself president, and immediately collect the support of Washington and Paris. About fifty countries recognize this pro-American president. Those like the American jurist, Alfred de Zaya, quoted by Le Grand Soir, who are astonished at a serious violation of international law are barely listened to: “We are witnessing a rebellion against international law and against the democratic principle. It is incredible that the United States arrogates the right to tell Venezuelans who should be their president! “And Alfred de Zaya, the last official of the United Nations stationed in Venezuela, to recall this truth killed by the confreres:” Since Hugo Chávez was elected, there have been 25 democratic, open and reliable national elections. The Venezuelan electoral system is far superior to that of most countries! Jimmy Carter, whose foundation has observed several polls, acknowledged, estimating the risk of fraud “.
Meanwhile, President Nicolas Maduro, reelected in May 2018 after a vote boycotted by the main opposition parties, had been ordered to “reorganize” presidential elections in eight days. He opposed it, because why reorganize the presidential ones against which does not weigh a suspicion of fraud beyond the threshold of tolerance generally admitted?
From Caracas to Kinshasa, the same issues
Our colleagues in the Western press, as well as the pro-American polls legitimizing the polls (Carter Foundation, for example) observe in this case, as in all the others that touch on the hegemonism of the liberal-globalist model, an editorial unilateralism. , sound box of the vision of the American president, Donald Trump. While the US and French governments, under the pretext of humanitarian aid and democratic concerns, are trying to influence the course of this country, it is certainly time for African countries and the African Union to draw lessons from them. to recall only positions of principle.
The history of Africa conditions it to support this country for the respect of the popular will. With its fabulous wealth, the country of Hugo Chavez is reminiscent of the DRC, a country that, since independence, found itself facing a secession in the province of Katanga. Parallelism of forms for parallelism of forms, we remember that the then self-proclaimed president, Moses Tshombe, was immediately recognized by Belgium who then thought to afford perpetual access to the wealth of the DRC.
Yesterday as today, it is under the banner of democracy that the West intervenes and its relays. No more in Kinshasa yesterday than in Caracas today, it is a question of silencing all dissonance and criticism. Venezuelan Bolivarism is certainly accountable for the current failures of this wealthy country. But can we deny his brave and, of course, perfectible social programs? Under the emblematic Chavez, which has twice escaped so-called democratic coups, Venezuela has implemented policies of courageous redistribution of wealth.
Beijing and Moscow, investors or allies?
His successor, Maduro, armed with the same convictions, the baguette alas less, is struggling to continue the socialist bolivarian drive, served by a conjuncture of the barrel of oil rather unfavorable and a near American blockade, which pushes it to throw oneself into the arms of the Chinese (who bet $ 50 billion to Venezuela in the form of investments and loans and who, because of this, are objective allies of the regime) and Russians. The latter invested 6.5 billion dollars in Venezuelan oil. Beijing and Moscow thus access oil at a discount, on terms more favorable than the international market, but must run the risk of litigation in case of sudden change of the regime.
Oil, both strength and weakness of Caracas
That’s why, barely self-proclaimed, Juan Guaido, 35, was quick to reassure these cumbersome allies. One of the first decisions of this young admirer of Donald Trump and Brazilian Bolsonaro is the takeover of the American subsidiary of Petroleos de Venezuela SA (PDVSA), the national oil company nationalized in 1976. The Venezuelan oil is heavy, it is partly refined in the United States by Citgo, a subsidiary of Petroleos de Venezuela SA (PDVSA).
The company exports to the United States nearly half of its crude production, accounting for 75% of its cash flow. But oil finances 96% of the state budget.
Washington has already officially given control of Venezuelan bank accounts in the United States to the leader of the opposition. Certainly, the European Union (EU) is invited to follow suit.
As of April 28, the United States also intends to impose an embargo on essential exports of Venezuelan crude to the US market. Caracas estimates that the damage caused to the economy by the “US blockade” amounts to 30 billion dollars.
Nicolas Maduro, supported by Russia, Turkey, Iran and China, accuses Washington of wanting to overthrow him to grab the country’s oil reserves, the largest in the world.
Things would have been better if the United States had not sequestered about $ 10 billion belonging to Venezuela, he said before recalling that this money, like gold in the amount of 1, $ 2 billion frozen by the Bank of England, could help the authorities buy food and medicine for the population.
Starting point
The situation in Venezuela worsened when the opponent Juan Guaido, dismissed on 22 January as president of the National Assembly by decision of the Supreme Court, proclaimed himself the country’s “acting President” the next day. then took an oath publicly. Donald Trump recognized him as “Acting President”. 19 European countries, including the United Kingdom and Germany, have done the same. France has also recognized him as “President in charge”. Some 50 countries have recognized it.
Russia, China and several other countries supported Nicolas Maduro as the legitimate President of Venezuela. The Kremlin has described the decision of some European countries as “interference in the internal affairs of Venezuela”. Africa is observing a neutrality that does not honor its long march towards freedom and the (still fictitious) recovery of its resources.