States of emergency of Venezuela are sometimes declared. They were declared once in 2015 due to the
2015 Colombia–Venezuela migrant crisis, and again in May 2016 by the president
Nicolás Maduro
Nicolás Maduro Moros (; born 23 November 1962) is a Venezuelan politician and former union leader serving as the 53rd president of Venezuela since 2013. Previously, he was the 24th Vice President of Venezuela, vice president from 2012 to 20 ...
who suggested that there had been a plot to overthrow the Venezuelan government.
2015
A state of emergency was declared in 2015 due to issues near the Colombian border, resulting in the suspension of constitutional guarantees and the Venezuela–Colombia migrant crisis.
2016
On 13 May 2016 a
state of emergency
A state of emergency is a situation in which a government is empowered to put through policies that it would normally not be permitted to do, for the safety and protection of its citizens. A government can declare such a state before, during, o ...
was declared in Venezuela by
President
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* President (education), a leader of a college or university
*President (government title)
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Arts and entertainment Film and television
*'' Præsident ...
Nicolás Maduro
Nicolás Maduro Moros (; born 23 November 1962) is a Venezuelan politician and former union leader serving as the 53rd president of Venezuela since 2013. Previously, he was the 24th Vice President of Venezuela, vice president from 2012 to 20 ...
. The details of this emergency condition were not explained by Maduro but he mentioned conspiracy within the country and from an
OPEC
The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC ) is an organization enabling the co-operation of leading oil-producing and oil-dependent countries in order to collectively influence the global oil market and maximize Profit (eco ...
country and the United States to overthrow the Caracas government.
Rationale
Maduro accused the United States of fomenting a hidden
coup against his government.
On 13 May, Friday night, state television broadcast statements by Maduro saying: "
Washington is activating measures at the request of Venezuela’s fascist right, who are emboldened by the coup in Brazil."
According to Maduro's opinion, the
impeachment process against Brazilian president Dilma Rousseff is a sign that shows he was the next one.
In a meeting with the Council of Ministers Maduro stated that the state of emergency decree is directed against "oligarchical parasites and speculators".
Responses
The opposition-dominated
National Assembly
In politics, a national assembly is either a unicameral legislature, the lower house of a bicameral legislature, or both houses of a bicameral legislature together. In the English language it generally means "an assembly composed of the repr ...
started a process to recall Maduro as president, citing as motives bad conditions such as food and medicine shortages, power cuts, looting and increasing of inflation rate, along with complaints of corruption, drug trafficking and human rights violations.
, opposition lawmaker, said: "Today Maduro has again violated the constitution. Why? Because he is scared of being recalled."
In the lead up to the declaration, United States intelligence officials told reporters that they were worried about an economic and political crisis in Venezuela, predicting that Maduro would not complete his presidency.
They added: "You can hear the ice cracking. You know there's a crisis coming."
See also
*
2014–16 Venezuelan protests
*
Crisis in Venezuela
An ongoing socioeconomic and political crisis began in Venezuela during the presidency of Hugo Chávez and has worsened during the presidency of successor Nicolás Maduro. It has been marked by hyperinflation, escalating starvation, disease, c ...
*
Timeline of the 2016 Venezuelan protests
References
{{Bolivarian Venezuela Crisis, state=collapsed
States of emergency
Crisis in Venezuela
Emergency laws
Political history of Venezuela