Maduro Opponents Ask OAS to Suspend Venezuela

Venezuela’s opposition-controlled National Assembly called on the Organization of American States on Thursday to apply the Inter-American Democratic Charter against Venezuela in the name of suspending the country from the regional body over what the government’s opponents call an “institutional and humanitarian crisis.”

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The head of the right-wing National Assembly’s foreign policy wing, Luis Florido, made the request during a meeting with OAS chief Luis Almagro in Washington on Thursday after the parliament approved a resolution over two months ago paving the way for OAS mediation in the country’s political situation.

Florido also delivered an opposition report on what he described as a “serious crisis” in Venezuela. The opposition concerns voiced in the report have also become the basis for demands for a recall referendum this year on whether to remove Maduro from office.

Luis Florido meets OAS chief Luis Almagro in Washington, May 19, 2016. I Photo: OAS

Meanwhile, Maduro argues that the current campaign against his government constitutes the "most serious" assault seen in a decade. 

Almagro confirmed on his Twitter account following the meeting that he had received the request and the report on the “critical situation in Venezuela on various fronts.”

It remains unclear when Almagro will take a decision on whether to invoke the Democratic Charter. If the OAS chief chooses to activate the measure, it would need to ratified by members to lead to Venezuela’s suspension from the regional body.

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The meeting comes just one day after Almagro penned an uncharacteristic and strongly-worded letter to Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro on Wednesday accusing him of being a “traitor” and at risk of sliding toward becoming a “petty dictator.”

The OAS chief has already threatened to apply the Democratic Charter against Venezuela, a move that prompted former Uruguayan President Jose Mujica, under whom Almagro served as foreign minister, to formally break ties with his once close ally.

The Venezuelan government has accused the opposition of trying to use the OAS to advance its political interests and urged the regional body to focus on promoting dialogue, not following the opposition’s lead.

Venezuelan Foreign Minister Delcy Rodriguez has rejected opposition claims and accused Almagro of participating in U.S.-led intervention in the country aimed at destabilizing the government in favor of opposition forces. In response to Almagro’s letter ot Maduro, Rodriguez wrote on her Twitter account on Wednesday accusing the OAS head of parotting the “script dictated by the imperial masters.”

Increased potential for OAS intervention in Venezuela comes as polarization heats up in the South American country and political debates center around the issue of a proposed recall referendum against Maduro.