Fuente Web |
The
oil-rich country's socialist government is facing an escalation of opposition
protests after electoral authorities suspended a referendum on President
Nicolas Maduro's rule that could have led to his departure from office.
Maduro, 53,
narrowly won election to succeed Hugo Chavez in 2013 but has seen his
popularity plummet during a deep economic crisis. He was due to attend the
summit briefly on Saturday, organizers and a Venezuelan government source said.
Heads of
state and officials from around Latin America, as well as Portugal and Spain,
were attending the meeting in the coastal humidity of colonial Cartagena and were due to release a statement
later on Saturday.
Venezuela,
despite having the world's largest oil reserves, is mired in a prolonged
recession worsened by currency depreciation and low oil prices, with many
skipping meals due to shortages and soaring prices.Critics say Maduro has kept
a grip on power by side-lining the legislature, arresting opponents and leaning
on compliant institutions to squash the referendum.He says foes are seeking to
topple him illegally.
The
summit's host Colombia,
meanwhile, is scrambling to save a hard-won peace deal with the Revolutionary
Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC. The deal, hammered out over almost four
years of difficult negotiations, was rejected in a plebiscite vote this month
by less than half a percentage point. The regional leaders met at the same
conference center where the deal was signed just over a month ago.
President
Juan Manuel Santos, who was reelected in 2014 on a platform focused on
achieving peace, has held meetings with the opposition in a bid to modify the
deal enough to satisfy critics.
"Peace
for Colombia will be a
reality," Santos
said in opening remarks at the conference. "We will not betray the hopes
of Colombians or the international community, which has accompanied us with
such generosity."Government negotiators have returned to Havana, Cuba,
where the original talks took place, to discuss opposition suggestions with
FARC leadership and make changes to the accord.
No hay comentarios:
Publicar un comentario