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<h1 class="title">Venezuelan Supreme Court Upholds Machado’s Removal
from Office</h1>
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<p class="byline"> By <span class="author">Zoë Clara Dutka</span> </p>
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<div class="block-inner"><a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://venezuelanalysis.com/news/10566">http://venezuelanalysis.com/news/10566</a><br>
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<p>Santa Elena de Uairén April 1st, 2014 (<a
href="http://venezuelanalysis.com">venezuelanalysis.com</a>)--
Yesterday evening, the Supreme Court of Venezuela ruled to uphold the
removal of former deputy of the National Assembly (AN), Maria Corina
Machado. Assembly president Diosdado Cabello called for her
dismissal last week, though the power to pass such verdict ultimately
belonged to the Supreme Court. The final decision was based on
Machado’s violation of articles 191 and 197 of the constitution as they
apply to Assembly members. The articles indicate that no member may
accept employment from any foreign government without previous approval
from parliament.</p>
<p>Though Machado claimed it was temporary appointment, she accepted a
seat as an alternate Ambassador of Panama in a meeting of the
Organization of American States (OAS) in Washington, on March 21st.</p>
<p>Upon learning the verdict yesterday evening, Machado summoned her
supporters to rally for “Popular Sovereignty” at 12 PM today in Brión
Plaza, in downtown Caracas.</p>
<p>Machado has asserted that her expulsion has no parallel in
Venezuelan history and further proves that the country is under
dictatorship.</p>
<p>Late last night she <a href="http://www.apple.com">tweeted</a>,
“Tomorrow I will attend the National Assembly and exercise my right,
even with the risks involved. I am deputy of the Assembly and I will be
as long as the people want me to. I was elected by the people of
Venezuela.”</p>
<p>Machado was elected into office in 2010 through the same electoral
system that elected president Nicolas Maduro in April of 2013. She
denounced the latter victory as having been achieved by fraudulent and
undemocratic means.</p>
<p>In preparation for today’s demonstration, Machado <a
href="http://www.eluniversal.com/nacional-y-politica/protestas-en-venezuela/140331/convocan-concentracion-en-apoyo-a-maria-corina-machado">warned
protestors</a> of the likelihood of mass arrest. “Any Venezuelan who
raises their voice for their rights and defends the Constitution
without fear… may be the object of an arbitrary detention… now that
there is no separation of powers, there is no Lawful State, nor respect
for due process in our country.”</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Incidentally, Machado has been under criminal investigation for
alleged incitement of violent protest that has resulted in an estimated
$10 billion dollars in damage nationwide.</p>
<p>A pro-government Assembly member, Elvis Amoroso, today communicated
that he’d been presented with a document signed by <a
href="http://aporrea.org/actualidad/n248230.html">over 2,000 citizens</a>
from different social groups accusing Machado of encouraging
unconstitutional activity to remove democratically elected president
Maduro from office and calling for her arrest. Hundreds of government
supporters marched today in front of the district attorney’s office in
Guarico state, and others congregated around Parliament in the city
center.</p>
<p>A woman holding a copy of the constitution in her hand told a state
television <a href="http://aporrea.org/actualidad/n248230.html">reporter</a>,
“The very same constitution she tried to dissolve in 2002 gave her the
power to be deputy of the national assembly. Now she’s against us
again, seeking conflict in our country along with the United States. We
are a country of peace, and they cannot win with violence, because we
are armed with the constitution…laid down by commander Hugo Chavez.”</p>
<p>In 2002 Machado was linked to a coup attempt that briefly removed
late president Hugo Chavez from office and subsequently dissolved the
National Assembly, Supreme Court, and forced the suspension of many
governors and mayors.</p>
<p>The oppositional mayor of the Caracas metropolitan area, Antonio
Ledezma, tweeted this morning his <a
href="http://www.el-nacional.com/politica/Ledezma-Maria-Corina-Machado-Venezuela_0_383361698.html">solidarity
with Machado’s</a> cause, “Street action and more street action! All of
Caracas will march today in support and defense of democracy. [María
Corina] is not alone, she has Venezuela by her side.”</p>
<p>Around 1 PM today, accompanied by Ledezma and flanked by hundreds of
supporters, Machado began to march towards the National Assembly in
Caracas. National Guard soldiers <a
href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/mundo/ultimas_noticias/2014/04/140401_ultnot_venezuela_caracas_avenidas_trancadas_ng.shtml">blocked</a>
their route, however, which prevented them from walking through the
city center. Many demonstrators, and Machado herself, tried to get past
the guard but were refused passage, eventually being pushed back with
tear gas. Ramon Muchacho, the mayor of the municipality quickly
dispatched medics to the area, and some minor wounds were treated.</p>
<p>Machado left the scene and was taken, on motorcycle, by an alternate
route to the front of parliament. A caravan of supporting deputies
accompanied her, also on motorcycles. Some <a
href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/mundo/ultimas_noticias/2014/04/140401_ultnot_venezuela_caracas_avenidas_trancadas_ng.shtml">reports
estimate</a> 22 deputies arrived before the official building at her
side.</p>
<p>Machado later <a
href="http://www.el-nacional.com/politica/Maria-Corina-Machado-Brion-Chacaito_0_383361756.html">announced</a>
her plan to confront the Supreme Court directly, and asked her
supporters to join her again this Friday in front of the Palace of
Justice. “If they attempt to silence me, we’ll only get stronger.”</p>
<p>Some hours later, unknown persons <a
href="http://www.correodelorinoco.gob.ve/caracas/prendieron-fuego-a-fachada-ministerio-vivienda-y-habitat-chacao/">set
fire</a> to the Ministry of Housing for the second time since February.
The Ministry, in charge of constructing housing for low-income
families, is located in the wealthy Caracas district of Chacao. <br>
</p>
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