Obama clash with Venezuela’s Nicolas Maduro backfires as Latin Americans unite against U.S.
The Venezuela spat throws a wrench into U.S. hopes for better relations with Latin America in the wake of the Cuba rapprochement. Many countries in Central and South America have long said the more than 50-year U.S. embargo on Havana was an impediment to better relations with the region as a whole.
Now the Venezuelan Congress, controlled by Maduro supporters, is racing to give the president expanded powers to fight “imperialism” from the north, including revived decree power to enact laws for up to six months without legislative approval. The measure could pass as soon as Sunday.
In Argentina, a close ally of President Cristina Fernandez doubled down Thursday by saying that Venezuela could not constitute a threat to a superpower such as the United States.
Sen. Ruperto Godoy, who chairs the Argentine Congress’ committee on foreign affairs, accused Mr. Obama of exacerbating the problems in Venezuela.
In recent months, Venezuela has been marked by violent repression of protests, price inflation nearing 70 percent, plunging oil revenue with falling global prices and long lines at grocery stores that have led to severe shortages of basic household goods.
“The attitude of the United States is absolutely exaggerated and surprising,” Mr. Godoy said in an interview. Acknowledging that he was troubled by some “incidents” in Venezuela, the senator insisted that they were internal matters and that the rule of law was intact.
“Of course I have confidence” in Mr. Maduro, Mr. Godoy said. “The government of Venezuela is in [a position] to resolve [this situation].”
Gift to leftists
In Ecuador, meanwhile, Mr. Obama’s executive order was a gift to leftist President Rafael Correa, who was a close friend of Chavez, said Felipe Burbano de Lara, who teaches at the Latin American Social Sciences Institute in Quito.
via NorthEast Calling http://ift.tt/1FWbkAD
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