Jorge Rodríguez threatens to let negotiations die if Venezuelan funds are not released

The ordinary session of the National Assembly (AN) of 2020 on January 17 took place between threats, by the president of the Legislature, Jorge Rodríguez, not to resume the negotiation tables with the opposition and accusations against the Church for acting as a “political party”. Parliament deputies approved an agreement to celebrate Teacher’s Day on January 15, ratified the presidencies of the permanent commissions and approved the 2023 legislative plan

Negotiations between the government and the opposition are at a peak due to breach of agreements by dissent to the policies of President Nicolás Maduro, warned the president of the National Assembly (AN) for 2020, Jorge Rodríguez. The head of Parliament said that the more than $3.2 billion of Venezuelan funds abroad have not been released as agreed in the meetings in Mexico, held in November 2022.

“If the return to the people of the $3.2 billion is not fulfilled, there is no reason to continue the dialogue,” Rodríguez warned in the ordinary session of January 17, in which the legislative agenda for this 2023 was discussed. The parliamentarian called on the opposition to return the assets “that they have kidnapped” to provide attention to the health system, the Electric Power System (SEN) and schools.

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Rodríguez’s position responds to the second partial agreement for attention to the Venezuelan people that on November 26 the delegations of the government of Nicolás Maduro and the opposition grouped in the Unitary Platform signed in the dialogue meetings that facilitates the Kingdom of Norway in the capital of Mexico.

The agreement contemplates the creation of a joint commission in charge of taking the necessary steps before international public and private organizations to obtain resources from the Republic frozen in the international financial system. Likewise, a commission is created in charge of addressing the effects of over-compliance with sanctions.

Rodríguez throws darts against the Church

He lashed out at the United States government for maintaining the sanctions against the Maduro administration and pretending through the interim government, led by the AN deputy elected in 2015 between 2019 and 2022, Juan Guaidó, to threaten the peace of the country. According to the official deputy, they were responsible for deepening the crisis

Rodríguez pointed out that the opposition submits to threats from foreign governments. He asserted that the ruling party is not afraid of the US and that if Venezuela becomes radicalized it will too. “We went through the lining of their threats.”

Jorge Rodríguez also criticized the Venezuelan Episcopal Conference. He accused the Venezuelan Church of meddling in religious issues and supporting interventionist actions by the US. “The devils in cassocks, cardinals, bishops and those who meet in a far-right party try to cover the sun with one finger and even deny projections from an organization such as the International Monetary Fund in which economic growth is recognized.”

debate by teachers

In the midst of a context of protests by the education sector to demand salary claims from the Government, the AN-2020 unanimously approved an agreement for the celebration of Teacher’s Day on January 15. The discussion of the document was carried out between accusations, by the official party, that the salary has not increased due to foreign sanctions and assertions that there have been no policies and consensus to attend to teachers, by the opposition .

The deputy Carmen Márquez (PSUV – Anzoátegui) assured that there had never been representation of the teaching profession in Parliament before, thus forgetting the deceased pro-government deputy Aristóbulo Isturiz, who also held other Executive positions, such as Minister of Education. According to Márquez, teachers know that there is a “blockade” against Venezuela

“We are telling them that there is a ruthless right, but also that the leadership of the Catholic Church, acting as men and women of good will, has become a political party.”

The parliamentarian emphasized that the protests that educators should lead should be focused on protesting against the more than 900 “coercive measures” of the US. She asserted that if Maduro “did not abandon us in times of the pandemic, we want to tell them that they are not alone and that there is a responsible president and that he will speak in the coming days. Let us not be confused, faith and hope are in Maduro.

For the opposition, representative Nixon Maniglia (AD – Amazonas) stressed that although they would support the project, the teachers have nothing to celebrate. He recalled that on Monday, January 16, the education sector protested throughout the country to claim their demands. “Hopefully Onapre, which escaped the claims in its premiums, rectifies and that the president in the coming days in an act of justice decrees an increase,” he added.

What Maniglia said was refuted by the deputy Damelys Chávez (PSUV – Zulia). According to the pro-government parliamentarian, the teachers “two days ago” made a demonstration of love, referring to a mobilization called by the government to celebrate the anniversary.

Chávez lashed out at teachers’ federations and unions, accusing him of serving “the right” and “the Church, who use teachers to heat the streets.” He affirmed that from the AN and the Executive will accompany, “as always” his fight.

«This Parliament must recognize the struggle of the teachers who recognize (the teachers) the culprits of this situation. The teachers know who are the ones who with the call for blockades have diminished their quality of life, “he said.

Deputy Bruno Gallo (Progressive Advanced – National) joined the debate. In his right to speak, he said that “imperialism exists and has taken detestable measures and worse, accompanied by an opposition that claims to be democratic.”

Gallo pointed out that it is necessary for the deputies, far from issuing speeches to “produce applause” to focus on promoting policies. “Not to ask for a salary but to generate a consensus among all sectors that have something to do with the salary issue to find ways and improve the quality of life of workers,” he added.

Legislative Agenda

Regarding the legislative agenda that Parliament will follow this year, he asserted that work will be done on transversal laws that seek to rescue the country’s economy. He stressed to the deputies that it is necessary “to leave the four walls of the chamber of sessions.”

He reiterated that the plan will be made up of at least 28 laws grouped into blocks, “which must be transversal and capture the expectations, concerns and vicissitudes of the citizenry.” The agenda was approved with the support of the opposition caucus, as well as the ratification of the presidencies of the permanent commissions and the appointment of deputy Francisco Ameliach as the representative of the National Assembly before the Council of State.

On the 2023 legislative agenda, on January 10 the first vice president of the AN 2020, pro-government deputy Pedro Infante (PSUV – Capital District), commented that the Legislature this year will prioritize economic laws and that it will focus its management on working on regulations that address public services, human development and seek the “revolution of the justice system.”

Infante explained to the media that in this annual period they will divide the agenda into blocks. Regarding the economic whole, he mentioned that regulations such as the Law of Public Procurement, Digital Commerce, and Tax Harmonization will be addressed, and the Law of the Communal Economic System will be incorporated into the plan.

He added at that time that the second block will serve public services. Among the laws that will be addressed are the Comprehensive Garbage Management Reform Bill. Infante explained that the laws of communal power will have an important space on the parliamentary agenda.

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