Caracas Chronicles

Photo: Cinco8 retrieved

Former Bolivian President Evo Morales went to Mexico on a plane the Mexican government lent him to guarantee a “safe trip” in the words of Mexican foreign minister. “It pains me to leave the country for political reasons but I’ll always pay attention. Soon I’ll come back with more strength and energy,” wrote Morales on Twitter, the day he used it the most. The Bolivian Parliament got his letter of resignation, where he denounces a political and police coup d’ètat (weird, right?), mentions victories “forged with blood and fire” (even weirder), and argues that to avoid violence (described with even more passion than the victories) he presents his resignation. Evo uses all techniques of emotional bribery he can, doesn’t mention the electoral fraud or the OAS report about the elections. Evo’s supporters have acted violently since Sunday night, enough to make the Armed Forces commander announce joint operations with the police. 

What’s Next?

The Legislative Branch must call for an extraordinary session to elect a successor, which could be opposition Senator Jeannine Áñez, second vice-president of the Senate, the main option in the Constitutional chain of succession after the resignation of the president of the Senate, the president of the Chamber of Deputies, and all members of the Evo’s party MAS. Before and after Evo’s resignation, there’s been a chain reaction of resignations, lawmakers, ministers and regional authorities of MAS. In any case, the MAS lawmakers say they’re willing to attend the session and advance with the constitutional process if their safety is guaranteed. The OAS Secretary General called for a meeting on November 12th to analyze the situation in Bolivia.

Guaidó’s Thesis 

Caraker President Juan Guaidó talked about electoral fraud and social pressure that made Evo Morales resign: “We can’t say today in Venezuela that there was a coup in Bolivia, there was proof of fraud. People are demanding, demanding similar things to Venezuela, free elections,” he said. Guaidó added that “I don’t know if it’s breeze or democratic hurricane, but it feels nice, the Liberator’s favorite daughter said enough.” Guaidó disregarded Diosdado Cabello’s march for Saturday, November 16th, and challenged chavismo to fill Bolívar Avenue: “Someone awoke the Wednesday’s gossip-guy yesterday and asked him to say something. He said that all states would bring people (to Caracas), I bet they don’t even fill Bolívar Avenue. There are so few reasons to stay in our homes on Saturday, like no water or electricity home. On November 16th, it isn’t Juan Guaidó who’s calling, it’s all sectors saying enough.” 

Diosdado’s Thesis 

Diosdado Cabello said that Evo’s resignation is a coup directed by the United States. “The government of the United States directed the coup against Evo Morales,” he said. Despite electoral fraud or maybe in solidarity, he called the Psuv “in revolutionary alert”. About the possibility of a military insurrection in Venezuela like it happened in Bolivia, Diosdado said that chavismo “is prepared to battle and win, we’re not scared of the enemy at all because we’ve faced him many times,” adding that “every conspiracy from the Right must be dealt with more revolution. They know it, that’s why they’re waiting for us on November 16th, we are going to Caracas, I’ll see you there.” President Donald Trump warned the presidents of Venezuela and Nicaragua that Evo’s case is a sign: “These events send a clear signal to authoritarian regimes that democracy and the people’s will always prevail (…) Morales’s resignation is an important moment for the history of democracy in the Western Hemisphere (…) Now we’re one step closer to a completely democratic, prosperous and free hemisphere.”

Nicolás, The Strong?

On Monday, Nicolás celebrated his variety show with governors, mayors and “protectors” (parallel authorities imposed in regions where chavismo didn’t win) to “perfect their methods and government strategies.” Amidst a complex humanitarian emergency, Nicolás talked about achievements in food, work, education and housing and he dared to say that “This year, imperialism decided a plan of total war against Venezuela and wanted to destroy our country to colonize it,” of course, because the country was whole… According to him, they pushed forward with “discipline, organization and military power.” 

These three words are key to today’s show: showing that ruling chavismo works beside him and the FANB keeps answering to him. That’s why he said there are now 3,200,000 militias ready to “take on the roles of organizing, mobilizing and keeping order inside our nation.” He said that he’s ready for combat, to fight for the revolution.

Promises of Freedom, Tricky Changes 

Javier Bertucci announced that next month would see the release of political prisoners as part of the agreements of the national dialogue roundtable, chavismo with their prêt-à-porter opposition. Bertucci called the National Assembly “to agree” on appointing a new CNE. Former governor Francisco Ameliach announced that these conversations seek to increase proportional representation on the elections in 2020, to increase the deputies per list in each state. About this last issue, journalist Eugenio Martínez, expert in the electoral source, says that “changing the amount of deputies elected nominally and per list requires a legal reform that the National Assembly must make,” because this decision means that the new CNE would have to go over and redefine voting circuits, especially the plurinominal ones, where more than one nominal deputy is elected. 

Briefs and Serious

– Hugo Carvajal, former chief of intelligence during Hugo Chávez’s government, spoke about the Spanish government’s alleged warrant of capture against him. His lawyers went to the Audiencia Nacional: “Up until today, neither I nor my lawyers have been formally notified about a judicial resolution of my case.” Carvajal is wanted by the American justice system for drug trafficking.

– The EU’s foreign ministers approved the extension of sanctions on Venezuela until November 14th, 2020, due to the political, social, economic and humanitarian crisis because of the “persistent actions undermining democracy, the rule of law and respect for human rights.” 

– Three people were detained in the investigation for the concert in the Simón Bolívar Park, right next to Parque del Este in Caracas, that left one dead teenager and an undetermined number of injured. Two producers from the company Banderas Blancas were detained. The only performer was Neutro Shorty.