Briefing

Delcy’s Revenge

Your daily briefing for Monday, June 25, 2018. Translated by Javier Liendo.

Naky Soto
Photo: Efecto Cocuyo

“The revolution is our revenge for the death of our father and his executioners,” said Vice-President Delcy Rodríguez in an interview with José Vicente Rangel, pointing out that “there’s no hate” in her prolonged vendetta, but the opportunity to show socialism’s humanity.

She also said that they’re ready to dialogue respectfully with the United States and to establish mechanisms of regional cooperation with Donald Trump’s government. In her view, “The Lima cartel (Group) is the engine behind the attacks against our nation, only to praise Trump,” and they’re the ones bent on disturbing the country’s “happily stable” situation —thanks to Nicolás’s reelection— just so that his regime admits a “fake humanitarian crisis” and with it, an invention and foreign interference. “Venezuela is a power and that’s why there are so many economic, political and social attacks,” said Delcy, blaming the crisis on sanctions —against government officials— and on the economic blockade. Ah! But the blockade has allowed them to see the light: the country’s productive and industrial capacity —which chavismo has destroyed— must be increased! And acknowledging production issues, she blamed the worst obstacles on corruption and bureaucracy. But don’t worry, because CLAPs are the best example on how to fight corruption. Delcy also regretted that Guyana left the path of dialogue to solve the territorial problem and asked them to resume friendly negotiations. She blithely mused that Voluntad Popular and Primero Justicia aren’t political parties anymore because “they decided to reject the opportunities the government offers.” But there’s no hate in her revenge, no, please.

Absolute loyalty

Nicolás commemorated Day of the Army and the Battle of Carabobo in the Carabobo Field. He attacked the “Bogota oligarchy,” which he says is driven by envy and hate —because the Venezuelan army led the independence— and also leads a 200-year long history of treason. He repeated that Colombia sets up “fake positives” to attack Venezuela, highlighting an offensive capacity that he’s only demonstrated to abuse human rights, but not to safeguard electrical facilities, for instance, since those suffer weekly sabotages despite the watch of our valiant local soldiers. Therefore, the epic of a threatened country that needs Armed Forces that won’t fall for deceit was perhaps the necessary passport to demand absolute loyalty to him, but not particularly wise, considering the stature shown by his loyalists at home. For a man who claims to want and guarantee peace, he spoke of treasons too many times.

Ministerial announcements

Communication and Information Minister Jorge Rodríguez said that the State established new mechanisms to solve eventualities in public services (electricity, water supply, cooking gas and public transport) without detailing said mechanisms. He added that they’ve also created methods to speed up communications and decisions among Ministers. Industries and National Production Minister Tareck El Aissami said that he convened the country’s producers to a great agreement to come clean on the cost structures for at least 50 essential products and to establish “agreed” prices, which won’t be imposed for discussed. The meetings will take place on Wednesday and Thursday of next week, but El Aissami demanded a “clean game” upfront, because in his view and despite hyperinflation, nobody can justify the changes in product prices; and just like he offered all of the government’s support, he demanded and end to “the destabilization agendas of economic war,” and promised to be merciless with those who don’t respect his “agreements.” Oil Minister Manuel Quevedo promised before OPEC to improve production levels and fulfill the agreement established in 2016, which requires 1,972,000 barrels per day for the second half of 2018.

Abroad

  • OAS Secretary General Luis Almagro announced that the institution submitted before the International Criminal Court the report made by independent experts about crimes against humanity in Venezuela, with the support of several countries in the region and the National Assembly.

  • Turkish dictator Recep Tayyip Erdogan was “reelected” this Sunday as president with more than 53% of votes, in early polls. Additionally, his party (AKP) preserved the absolute majority in Parliament. Erdogan’s held uninterrupted power in Turkey since 2002. The Turkish opposition denounced irregularities and great violence throughout the day, with at least two people dead.
  • Michael Fitzpatrick, U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary for Western Hemisphere Affairs, restated his country and the region’s solidarity with Venezuelans in Peru: “This isn’t your country, but it’s your temporary home. The situation Venezuela’s experiencing is regrettable,” said Fitzpatrick.

…

Nurses will start and indefinite strike in Caracas’s hospitals this Monday to demand better wages. They will only work in emergency rooms.

Naky Soto

Naky gets called Naibet at home and at the bank. She coordinates training programs for an NGO. She collects moments and turns them into words. She has more stories than freckles.

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