Venezuela’s Leader Blasts U.S. Over New Sanctions
Venezuela’s Leader Blasts U.S. Over New Sanctions
"I think that fewer and fewer of the Chavista faithful are going to buy it," points out AS/COA's Christopher Sabatini on Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro's pro-government rally.
CARACAS, Venezuela—Embattled President Nicolás Maduro lashed out at Washington during a pro-government rally on Monday, days after the U.S. Congress approved penalties against Venezuelan officials amid a deepening economic crisis in this oil-rich country.
“Insolent Yankees of the North!” Mr. Maduro roared at the crowd assembled in this capital for a nationally televised address, pictured at right. “They know where they have to stick their sanctions!”
The latest penalties would freeze any U.S. assets, from homes to the banking accounts, of targeted officials and deny them visas into the country. Though the list of the sanctioned officials wasn’t released, Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), an author of the bill, sought to include several state governors from the ruling socialist party, the country’s chief prosecutor and much of the military high command.....
Venezuela’s oil-dependent economy has been battered by the 40% slide in crude prices since July, with the price of a barrel here falling to $57.53 last week. Mr. Maduro, who is struggling to deal with widespread shortages of basic goods and one of the world’s highest inflation rates, has seen his approval ratings plummet to 24.5%, the Caracas-based pollster Datanalisis said in a November poll.
The poll also showed that 71.1% of respondents believe Mr. Maduro should leave office before the end of his term in 2019.
“Maduro is acting like a wounded animal, he is lashing out and trying anything that will work,” said Christopher Sabatini, senior director of policy at the Council of the Americas in New York. “It looks desperate, it really does. I think that fewer and fewer of the Chavista faithful are going to buy it....”
