Politics
June 29

Venezuelan lawyers request "reconstitutionalization" of the country
Deans and professors of Law and Political Sciences from different Venezuelan universities, as well as members of the Academy of Political and Social Sciences, supported on Monday the need to "reconstitutionalize" the country. They have requested Venezuelan powers to begin "as soon as possible" a dialogue favoring the strengthening of institutions.

In regards to the meeting to defend the Constitution that was held on Monday, a group of lawyers issued a statement in which it listed several facts that represent, in its view, "the weakening of the institutional fabric" and a "road to arbitrariness."

These facts range from "the failure to enforce the Constitution or distort it," the disregard of the popular will, the attempt to put an end to democratic pluralism and the threats to freedom of expression, among others.

Caracas Mayor denounces disregard of Venezuelan Constitution
Caracas Metropolitan Mayor Antonio Ledezma described as positive his tour of several US towns and the Organization of American States (OAS) and stressed that his goal was to advocate democracy in Venezuela.

Additionally, Ledezma said that during his meeting with the Secretary General of the United Nations he pointed to "the ongoing disregard of the current Constitution," which –according to him- must be protected in Venezuela and any other democratic country in the world.

"If we let the rule of law be disregarded, peace and democratic stability are endangered," the Mayor said.

July 03

Caracas mayor on indefinite hunger strike
Antonio Ledezma, the mayor of the Caracas Metropolitan Area, has gone on hunger strike inside the Embassy of the Organization of American States (OAS) to air to the world "the ongoing serious situation of democratic instability in the country."

Ledezma made the decision to request the following in front of the hemispheric organization:

1. Immediate provision of funds to pay the wages of the mayoralty workers.

2. Cessation of the arbitrary dismantling of the mayoralty by the central government.

3. Appointment by the OAS of a high-level delegation to visit Venezuela and monitor the serious situation of democracy; violation of the Constitution, and, particularly, what is happening to the Caracas Metropolitan Mayoralty and the state governments of Táchira, Zulia, Miranda, Carabobo and Nueva Esparta.

4. Learning about how government authorities disregard the national sovereignty.