International
The Constitution of Venezuela, a quarter of a century later
The Constitution of Venezuela reaches its 25th anniversary this Sunday with a questioned compliance with its precepts and a country far from that described in the Magna Carta – approved in a popular referendum on December 15, 1999 -, of which Chavismo and the opposition mutually accuse each other.
The text, which obtained 71% of the votes in favor – in a day marked by a high abstention and a natural disaster that took the lives of thousands in the north of the country -, was prepared to “establish a democratic, participatory and leading society,” in a “State of justice” that “consolidates the values of freedom” and guarantees human rights.
A quarter of a century later, the refounded ‘Bolivarian Republic’ is experiencing one of its greatest political crises, unleashed after the July presidential elections and marked by protests, police operations, 28 deaths and 2,400 arrests -according to official figures-, complaints of human rights violations, uncertainty, diplomatic conflicts and alleged terrorist and magnicide plans.
Here are some of the most invoked constitutional articles in this context:
Art. 5: The sovereignty resides intransferable in the people.
The candidate of the largest opposition bloc – the Democratic Unitary Platform (PUD) -, Edmundo González Urrutia, cited this article in defense of his claimed victory in the elections, a process tarnished by the coalition’s denunciation of fraud and a broad international questioning of the proclaimed re-election of Nicolás Maduro, who also claims popular sovereignty that – he assures – supported him.
Art. 68: Citizens have the right to demonstrate, peacefully and without weapons.
According to the Social Conflict Observatory (OVCS), there were 5,005 protests between January and November, of which – it indicates – 218 were suppressed. The hottest days were those after the elections, with demonstrations pointed out by the PUD as “spontaneous and legitimate expressions” and by the ruling party as “criminal guarimbas (violent revolts)” and “terrorists.”
Art. 49: Due process shall apply to all judicial and administrative proceedings.
Relatives of those who are considered “political prisoners”, activists and NGOs denounce violation of due process, impossibility of appointing lawyers and accessing files, incommunicado, early convictions, pressures to attribute to themselves facts that – they assure – they “did not commit”, transfers away from their places of residence without prior notice, mistreatment and lack of medical care, allegations that the Government denies and describes as false.
Art. 130: Venezuelans have the duty to honor and defend the homeland.
The Parliament – controlled by Chavismo – insisted this year on legislating against the “traitors to the homeland” based on article 130, and one of its most recent actions was to approve the ‘Organic Law Liberator Simón Bolívar’, which establishes penalties of 25 to 30 years in prison and fines of up to one million euros (1,050,400 dollars) for those who promote or are involved in foreign sanctions, as well as political disqualification of 60 years.
Art. 328: The Armed Forces constitute an essentially professional institution, without political militancy, (…) at the exclusive service of the nation and, in no case, to that of any person or political partiality.
The Bolivarian National Armed Forces (FANB), called “deeply Chavista” by Maduro, ratified its “absolute loyalty and subordination” to the head of state after the validation of its controversial victory by the Supreme Court, controlled by magistrates related to the ruling party, and after the PUD urged the military institution to “respect popular sovereignty.”
Art. 91: Every worker has the right to a sufficient salary that allows him to live with dignity and cover the basic needs for himself and his family.
The minimum wage – a reference for the rest of the remuneration in the public sector – has remained, since March 2022, at 130 bolivars, today about 2.5 dollars, when the basic food basket for a representative family of five people reached 539.79 dollars in October, according to independent estimates, an amount unattainable even with the additional bonuses of 130 dollars.
International
Foro Penal Reports 404 Political Prisoners Still Held in Venezuela
The Venezuelan human rights organization Foro Penal, which leads legal defense efforts for political prisoners in the country, reported on Wednesday that 404 people remain imprisoned for political reasons, five fewer than the figure released a week earlier. Among those detained are 39 foreign nationals or individuals with dual citizenship.
According to data published by the organization, the current total includes 369 men and 35 women being held on political grounds. The report also indicates that 225 of the detainees are civilians, including one teenager, while 179 are members of the military.
Foro Penal stated that 167 of the prisoners have been convicted, whereas 237 remain behind bars without a final sentence. The organization also noted that it has documented 19,102 politically motivated detentions in Venezuela since 2014.
The updated figures come amid an ongoing process of prisoner releases announced by Venezuelan authorities. Two weeks ago, National Assembly President Jorge Rodríguez said that approximately 300 detainees would be freed as part of a new round of releases, separate from those granted under an amnesty approved earlier this year.
Days later, acting President Delcy Rodríguez stated that the number of releases would reach 500 in the coming days. However, relatives of political prisoners and human rights organizations have questioned the pace of the process, arguing that the number of verified releases remains significantly lower than the figures announced by the government.
Foro Penal has reported that dozens of prisoners have been released in recent weeks, but the organization maintains that hundreds of people continue to be detained for political reasons despite the government’s promises and the implementation of the amnesty process.
Families of detainees have continued to demand greater transparency regarding the release process, alleging that many of the promised excarcerations have yet to materialize and calling on authorities to provide clear information about those who remain in custody.
International
Eight Bodies Found in Ecuador as Authorities Probe Link to Missing Persons Case
Ecuadorian police reported on Wednesday the discovery of eight bodies inside bags in a coastal area of southwestern Ecuador known as a strategic corridor for drug trafficking, as the country continues to grapple with an unprecedented wave of violence.
Authorities are now investigating whether the victims are the same eight people who disappeared on Sunday while traveling to complete a personal errand.
“We have confirmed that there are eight bodies,” said Colonel Galo Muñoz, the police chief for the area, during a press briefing. The bodies were found on the outskirts of the city of Babahoyo.
Interior Minister John Reimberg stated that investigators recovered a note near the bodies suggesting the killings may have been an attack carried out by the criminal organization Los Lobos against Los Choneros, two of Ecuador’s most powerful and violent criminal groups.
According to Muñoz, the bodies were wrapped and transported to a forensic center where specialists will work to establish their identities.
Milagro prosecutor Modesto Freire said the condition of the remains has complicated the identification process.
“The victims’ faces cannot be seen because the bodies are inside bags,” Freire explained.
In a statement posted on social media, Ecuador’s Attorney General’s Office said investigators are collecting evidence to determine whether the remains correspond to the eight individuals reported missing on May 31.
The discovery underscores the ongoing security crisis in Ecuador, where escalating violence linked to organized crime and drug trafficking has become one of the country’s most pressing challenges.
Central America
El Niño could intensify global climate risks, warns World Meteorological Organization
Latin American countries, one of the regions in the world most affected by El Niño, must “take extreme precautions” and make use of so-called “climate intelligence” to mitigate the most severe impacts of the phenomenon, the Secretary-General of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), Celeste Saulo, told EFE on Tuesday.
With a 90% probability, El Niño is expected to return in the second half of this year, and a strong intensity cannot be ruled out.
As a result, the phenomenon could trigger intense rainfall and flooding in some areas, while causing droughts in others, leading to direct impacts on communities and a wide range of economic sectors, including fishing and agriculture.
Saulo said countries in the region have improved their scientific and institutional capacity to monitor and respond to El Niño, as well as to understand how it interacts with other climate variables, including those linked to climate change, in order to better forecast “more or less severe impacts.”
When describing likely consequences in South and Central America, the Argentine scientist first referred to the “Coastal El Niño,” as the phenomenon is known in Peru and Ecuador.
She explained that this event brings increased rainfall and ocean warming, which strongly affects the fishing industry.
She added that northern South America, Central America, and northeastern Brazil are typically exposed to below-normal rainfall or drought conditions. In past extreme episodes, El Niño has even affected the operational capacity of the Panama Canal and created serious water access and management challenges during severe droughts.
In contrast, southeastern South America—including southern Brazil, Paraguay, northern and northeastern Argentina, and Uruguay—can expect above-average rainfall, increasing the risk of flooding, severe storms, and landslides.
Given the potential for fear and misinformation among populations, Saulo urged people to “trust the institutions responsible for meteorological information,” stressing that national meteorological services are the official and authoritative sources in each country.
“These are the ultimate responsible authorities and the voices of expertise,” she emphasized.
The most recent El Niño episode occurred between 2023 and 2024 and was among the five strongest ever recorded, contributing to record global temperatures.
The WMO chief noted that climate models remain uncertain about the intensity of the next El Niño, though more accurate forecasts are expected in the coming weeks.
While climate change has not been proven to increase the frequency or intensity of El Niño events, scientists do know that both can interact and amplify extreme weather impacts, potentially leading to natural disasters.
Although Latin America is often heavily affected, El Niño impacts can also be felt in North America, the Caribbean, central and eastern Africa, parts of Asia, and Australia.
Foro Penal Reports 404 Political Prisoners Still Held in Venezuela
Eight Bodies Found in Ecuador as Authorities Probe Link to Missing Persons Case
El Niño could intensify global climate risks, warns World Meteorological Organization
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El Niño could intensify global climate risks, warns World Meteorological Organization
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International5 hours agoEight Bodies Found in Ecuador as Authorities Probe Link to Missing Persons Case
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International5 hours agoForo Penal Reports 404 Political Prisoners Still Held in Venezuela