Moises Rendón: Venezuela at a Crossroads: The Countdown to a Soviet-Style Constituent Assembly

Yesterday, the broad opposition to the Nicolás Maduro regime, and to its proposed July 30 constituent assembly, organized a political referendum, effectively launching the most important two weeks in the history of Venezuela. The international community continues to watch a sophisticated nation crumble before its eyes. The levels of violence and civilian deaths are increasing exponentially and could sink Venezuela to permanent failed state status. This man-made crisis worsens when one considers how thoroughly and deeply entrenched government and military officials are in narco-trafficking and other nefarious activities. As yesterday’s referendum results showed, 98 percent of the 7.5 million voters are demanding that the regime stop the constituent assembly, respect the current Constitution, accept the democratically elected National Assembly, and hold free and transparent elections to form a new transitional government. The international community must act now to ensure that democracy and rule of law remain critical priorities within the Western Hemisphere.

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