Venezuela – Citizens Decry Rigged Elections: “Maduro Would Beat Jesus”

The electorate in Venezuela fears that dirty tricks will help keep President Maduro in the saddle tomorrow, no matter who is up against.

The head of a Venezuelan business association, Mr Carlos González, claims that at this point the name on the ballots doesn’t even matter: “Jesus Christ could be the candidate and Maduro would still prevail because the system is set up for him to win.”

But just as the socialist party of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro is preparing for tomorrow’s elections, the US Treasury department upped the ante in its everlasting criticism of the South American autocratic rulers when it stated that both the President and his number two, Mr Diosdado Cabello, profited from illegal narcotic shipments out of the country, and would, therefore, impose further sanctions against the country.

Related coverage: https://thegoldwater.com/news/26323-Venezuela-American-Sends-Desperate-Call-As-300-Political-Prisoners-Revolt-Video

The current White House administration, just as the previous one, accuses the Venezuelan regime of both human rights abuses as well as being the main cause of the country’s economic and political crisis. Mr Maduro has imprisoned his main opposition, and his population suffers from malnutrition, rampant inflation, and violent crime.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">BREAKING: Days before sham elections in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Venezuela?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Venezuela</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/USTreasury?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@USTreasury</a> sanctions Diosdado Cabello, along with his wife and brother <a href="https://t.co/y8dD9FKSvT">https://t.co/y8dD9FKSvT</a> <a href="https://t.co/TxuCL9ceTH">pic.twitter.com/TxuCL9ceTH</a></p>&mdash; InterAmericanSW (@IASecurity) <a href="https://twitter.com/IASecurity/status/997556369258663937?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 18, 2018</a></blockquote>

<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

The US Treasury stated: “As of March 2017, Cabello seized drug loads from small-scale drug traffickers, and combined and exported them through a Venezuelan government-owned airport.”

“Cabello, along with President Maduro and others, divided proceeds from these narcotics shipments.”

Related coverage: https://thegoldwater.com/news/23199-VP-Pence-Talks-Venezuela-At-Americas-Summit-Every-Free-Nation-Gathered-Here-Must-Take-Action

Sanctions were also imposed on three Florida based companies: 11420 Corp, Noor Plantation Investments LLC, and SAI Advisors Inc.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">US Treasury sanctions Venezuelan Diosdado Cabello one of the highest ranking officials and head of the socialist party in Maduro’s narco dictatorship. The noose tightens <a href="https://t.co/c4590tBRpy">https://t.co/c4590tBRpy</a></p>&mdash; Fernando Amandi Sr. (@FernandoAmandi) <a href="https://twitter.com/FernandoAmandi/status/997559770054840320?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 18, 2018</a></blockquote>

<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Secretary of the US Treasury, Mr Steven Mnuchin: “The Venezuelan people suffer under corrupt politicians who tighten their grip on power while lining their own pockets.”

“We are imposing costs on figures like Diosdado Cabello who exploit their official positions to engage in narcotics trafficking, money laundering, embezzlement of state funds, and other corrupt activities.”

Meanwhile, Venezuelan President Maduro lays blame for the deep recession and hyperinflation which has caused food shortages in his country with US President Donald Trump.

Source:

http://www.el-nacional.com/noticias/mundo/departamento-del-tesoroimpuso-sanciones-economicas-diosdado-cabello_235898