Nicolas Maduro reported this Wednesday that it requested the Supreme Court of Justice (TSJ) for a “constitutional consideration” to withdraw the nationality of everything that, in its words, is “vendepatria” and “joins a foreign imperialist army to invade” the country, an accusation he directed against the opponent Leopoldo Lopez.
In an event broadcast by the state channel VTV, Maduro maintained that the measure seeks that the TSJ “authorize to proceed and remove his Venezuelan nationality, all documentation and everything that needs to be removed, in accordance with the law and the Constitution” to anyone who participates in an invasion.
He assured to base his request on article 130 of the Constitution, which contemplates the duty of Venezuelans to “honor and defend the homeland” and to “safeguard and protect sovereignty, nationality, territorial integrity, self-determination and the interests of the nation.”
The announcement occurs in a context of tension due to the United States military deployment in the Caribbean Sea, where – according to the Maduro government – the arrival in the coming days of the most modern aircraft carrier of the US Navy is expected.
However, the Constitution itself contains provisions that could come into tension with the proposed measure: article 35 establishes that Venezuelans by birth “may not be deprived of their nationality”; Only the nationality acquired through naturalization could be revoked, and this by means of a court ruling.
Appeal to withdraw nationality
The executive vice president, Delcy Rodriguezreported last weekend that Maduro presented an appeal to the TSJ to “withdraw nationality” López, whom he accused of “calling for a military invasion,” of promoting “permanently the economic blockade” and of making “a call for the massive murder of Venezuelans in complicity with foreign governments and enemies.”
Rodríguez also announced the annulment “immediately” of the passport of the former deputy, who has been exiled in Madrid since 2020.
In response, Leopoldo López stated: “Maduro wants to take away my nationality for saying what all Venezuelans think and want: freedom”. López told Efe that, if implemented, he would be “the first citizen born in Venezuela” to whom a measure of this type would be applied and assured that the president is “cornered” and intends to impose a “threat dam” against those who support freedom in the country.
Lopez’s party Popular Will (VP)described the government’s intention as an emulation of “the repressive patterns of the dictatorships of Cuba and Nicaragua.”
Maduro’s request came after López declared that the negotiation no longer serves to achieve political change in Venezuela and that he is relying on “pressure” from the United States; According to the published text, López even stated that “He even supports a US attack on Venezuelan soil that ends Maduro”.
With information from Efe.
