Once again @jguaido rejects piecemeal agreements with the govt of @NicolasMaduro (including the new #CNE), accusing those involved of "conspiring with the dictatorship" to legitimise "tyranny and loyal opposition".
He calls for "greater pressure" on the govt to compel it to agree to a "National Salvation Agreement", in exchange for certain guarantees, including transitional justice.
The progressive lifting of sanctions would occur, under this scheme, only once the comprehensive agreement is reached, and only in response to specific, concrete steps to implement it, with punishment for backsliding.
Unity is essential, says @jguaido, but around the "interim government" and its strategy, although he says he is ready to accept an unspecified "mechanism" to renew the leadership.
Left unsaid is whether those in the opposition who wish to participate in upcoming regional and local elections without awaiting fully democratic conditions will be expelled from the opposition alliance.
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Today’s appointment of a new electoral authority (CNE) in #Venezuela, with an increased opposition presence, is the strongest hint yet that @NicolasMaduro wants a thaw in relations with Washington. (Thread) 🧵
Formally appointed by the govt-dominated National Assembly, the five-member CNE board (plus 10 reserve members) is actually the result of lengthy private negotiations with factions of the opposition opposed to @jguaido’s all-or-nothing policy.
Maduro has in the past two weeks responded to U.S. demands for “concrete measures” with a number of moves, of which the CNE appointments represent the latest, and potentially the most significant.
#Venezuela opposition leader @leopoldolopez, who fled the country at the weekend after 18 months holed up in the Spanish ambassador's residence, had insisted he would never go into exile. His departure comes at a low point in opposition fortunes. What will it mean? (Thread)
The Spanish government says his decision to leave was "personal and voluntary", but Venezuela's foreign ministry accused the Spanish ambassador of being an "accomplice" to the escape of a "dangerous criminal".
Diplomatic fireworks aside, the Maduro government may be glad to see the back of him, and Spain certainly won't be sorry their "guest" (as they insist he was) has finally checked out. The intelligence agents parked permanently outside the residence can now be redeployed.
Gracias Francisco. Lo que voy a decir no es una defensa de las sanciones. Como sabes, en @CrisisGroup no estamos a favor de las sanciones sectoriales. Tampoco soy economista. Dicho eso, vamos por partes (hilo).
No he leido el original de @miguelsantos12 que cita @eduardo_semtei pero aparentemente se refiere al "deterioro generalizado" de #Venezuela. Limitarnos a describir el impacto sobre el PIB, o sobre el petroleo, por lo tanto, no constituye una respuesta adecuada. Pongamos ejemplos:
1. Supongamos que en vez de saquear el FIEM - y luego el Fonden - los gobiernos chavistas hubieran ahorrado el excedente en ingresos petroleros. Y que no se hubiera desmantelado la mayor red de refinacion del hemisferio.