The second vice-president of Venezuela鈥檚 National Constituent Assembly (ANC) has been removed after he publicly criticised the body鈥檚 inaction in the face of the country鈥檚 deepening economic crisis.
Former Attorney- General Isaias Rodriguez penned an op-ed in Venezuela鈥檚 centre-left newspaper Ultimas Noticias on October 23 in which he warned Chavismo could lose next year鈥檚 presidential elections, 鈥渋f the government and the National Constituent Assembly do not offer timely responses to this problem [of inflation]鈥.
鈥淲e defeated the opposition鈥檚 virtual reality but we refuse to reflect on our own 鈥 prices have shot up uncontrollably,鈥 he wrote, referring to the dramatic devaluation of Venezuela鈥檚 currency following Chavismo鈥檚 surprise October 15 regional election win.
The bolivar lost nearly a third of its black market value in the 10 days following the vote, falling from 31,109 bolivars a dollar on election day to 42,144 on October 25.
Shortly after the publication of the article, the ANC vice-president came under fire from fellow ANC member Pedro Carreno, who accused Rodriguez of 鈥渢reason".
鈥淭he Empire is attacking us with force and fury so that it is said that the National Constituent Assembly is a failure,鈥 Carreno said during an interview on Venezuelan state television on October 26.
鈥淐areful that we don鈥檛 fall for this trap, I say to the Venezuelan people and to some ANC members like Second Vice-President Isaias Rodriguez, who I鈥檝e heard with this [criticism]. If they do this in a deliberate manner, it鈥檚 treason against the homeland.鈥
The next day, Rodriguez was relieved of his post and replaced with former United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV) legislator Elvis Amoroso.
Rodriguez's removal was met with deep criticism by Venezuelan social movements, who took to social media to express their anger. #LessCarrenosMoreIsaias became a trending hashtag on Twitter.
Following his dismissal, Rodriguez released a public letter in which he claimed that the decision was taken at the request of the Italian foreign ministry, which reportedly complained that he could not continue to simultaneously occupy both his ANC post and his position as Venezuelan ambassador to Italy.
Rodriguez is not the only ANC member who has criticised the body鈥檚 inertia in the economic arena.
Speaking on Union Radio on Monday, ANC representative for pensioners David Paravisini said the body鈥檚 leaders 鈥渞esist incorporating the economic issue into the agenda of the plenary discussions鈥.
鈥淭here is pressure from certain sectors of the PSUV who I imagine don鈥檛 want this [economic] issue to be opened because it terrifies them,鈥 the engineer and university professor added.
Nonetheless, Paravisini confirmed that the different commissions of the ANC are actively debating the eight laws for addressing the economic crisis proposed by President Nicolas Maduro in September.
Another critical voice is independent pollster and ANC member Oscar Schemel, who regards the economic question as the body鈥檚 鈥済reat debt鈥 to the Venezuelan people, which he says is finally being 鈥渢aken seriously鈥.
鈥淭he economy has always been an absent debate [and] I think this is the first time that the debate over a new economic model 鈥 a real debate 鈥 is being taken seriously,鈥 he told Panorama on October 30.
The ANC was elected on July 30 with a mandate to resolve the country鈥檚 political impasse and severe economic crisis.
Under the 1999 constitution, the body has the authority to not only redraft Venezuela鈥檚 constitution, but also to supervise all other established branches of government.
[Reprinted from .]
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