Venezuela’s Opposition to Step Up Street Protests after Referendum

Venezuela’s Opposition¹ to Step Up Street Protests after Referendum

Venezuela’s opposition leaders called for more street protests Monday. The call for action came after more than seven million Venezuelans voted in an unofficial referendum at more than 2,000 locations on Sunday.

During the opposition-organized referendum, 98 percent of voters rejected President Nicolas Maduro’s proposal to rewrite the nation’s constitution.

The referendum included three questions. One dealt with Maduro’s proposal to create a new legislative² body to rewrite the 1999 constitution. Voters overwhelmingly rejected the proposal, according to academics who monitored the vote.

In response to another question, voters urged the military to defend the current constitution. They also pledged to support new elections before Maduro’s term ends in early 2019.

The referendum was seen as symbolic³ because it was not part of an official government election. Maduro dismissed the voting as unconstitutional. He said it would have no effect on the government or his political proposals.

Maduro has set a July 30 vote to create the Constituent⁴ Assembly. The legislative body would have the power to rewrite the constitution and dissolve state institutions.

The opposition has accused Maduro of seeking to build up the proposed new assembly with his supporters. They say this would allow him to remove the few remaining checks on his power and create a Cuba-style system controlled by his socialist⁵ party.

Julio Borges is president of the opposition-controlled National Assembly. He said the large voter turnout should be seen as a message to the government that “democracy is not negotiated.”

“We don't want a fraudulent Constituent Assembly imposed on us,” Borges said. “We don't want to be Cuba. We don't want to be a country without freedom.”

On Monday, Venezuelan opposition leaders called on supporters to increase street protests as another way to show opposition to Maduro’s planned July 30 election.

Political observers said Sunday’s large turnout was an important show of support for the country’s opposition. But they also noted⁶ that the number of voters fell short of the opposition’s 7.7 million showing in the 2015 legislative elections. It was also less than the 7.5 million votes Maduro got when he was elected in 2013.

Opposition leaders said the lower number was the result of having to organize the balloting⁷ quickly and at limited locations.

Some experts said the referendum result would likely cause the international community to take a stronger position against Maduro’s planned vote.

One woman was killed at an opposition-voting site at a church in western Caracas that was surrounded by government supporters. Witnesses said hundreds of people became trapped in the church. Four people were wounded.

Violence during opposition protests over the past few months has left at least 93 people dead and 1,500 injured.

I’m Bryan Lynn.

Words in This Story

referendum – n. vote in which all voters cast ballots⁸ to decide an issue rather than representatives in government

dissolve – v. officially end something

fraudulent – adj. something dishonest or illegal

1 opposition   

n.反对，敌对

参考例句：

• The party leader is facing opposition in his own backyard.该党领袖在自己的党內遇到了反对。
• The police tried to break down the prisoner's opposition.警察设法制住了那个囚犯的反抗。

2 legislative   

n.立法机构，立法权；adj.立法的，有立法权的

参考例句：

• Congress is the legislative branch of the U.S. government.国会是美国政府的立法部门。
• Today's hearing was just the first step in the legislative process.今天的听证会只是展开立法程序的第一步。

3 symbolic   

adj.象征性的，符号的，象征主义的

参考例句：

• It is symbolic of the fighting spirit of modern womanhood.它象征着现代妇女的战斗精神。
• The Christian ceremony of baptism is a symbolic act.基督教的洗礼仪式是一种象征性的做法。

4 constituent   

n.选民；成分，组分；adj.组成的，构成的

参考例句：

• Sugar is the main constituent of candy.食糖是糖果的主要成分。
• Fibre is a natural constituent of a healthy diet.纤维是健康饮食的天然组成部分。

5 socialist   

n.社会主义者；adj.社会主义的

参考例句：

• China is a socialist country,and a developing country as well.中国是一个社会主义国家，也是一个发展中国家。
• His father was an ardent socialist.他父亲是一个热情的社会主义者。

6 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

7 balloting   

v.（使）投票表决( ballot的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• Clark took a commanding leading in the early balloting. 在最初投票时，克拉克遥遥领先。 来自辞典例句
• The balloting had stagnated, he couldn't win. 投票工作陷于停顿，他不能得胜。 来自辞典例句

8 ballots   

n.投票表决( ballot的名词复数 )；选举；选票；投票总数v.（使）投票表决( ballot的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• They're counting the ballots. 他们正在计算选票。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The news of rigged ballots has rubbed off much of the shine of their election victory. 他们操纵选票的消息使他们在选举中获得的胜利大为减色。 来自《简明英汉词典》