The OAS Is Getting Ready to Attack Venezuela Again — Here’s How

Organization of American States, OAS, Secretary General Luis Almagro has called for a “special meeting” to be held on Monday to discuss the recent Venezuela Supreme Court decision, despite the fact that the decision was reversed due to criticisms within Venezuela's government.

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Almagro called the meeting in response to Wednesday's ruling which specified that the top court could assume some responsibilities of the National Assembly as long as the legislature continued to operate “in contempt” of the constitution.

On Saturday morning, however, Venezuela’s Supreme Court reversed their decision. The reversal was made hours after Venezuela’s Security Council called on the court to revisit the decision.

Notwithstanding, Almagro and the mainstream media still contend the ruling was a “self-coup” intended to grant more power to the ruling United Socialist Party of Venezuela. 

“Unfortunately, what we had warned has now come to pass,” Almagro said in a statement. 

“The unconstitutional decisions by (Venezuela’s Supreme Court) to strip parliamentary immunity from the members of the National Assembly and assume the legislative function are the latest actions taken by the authoritarian regime to subvert the constitutional order in Venezuela and eliminate all semblance of democracy,” Almagro said.

Not only has he met with Venezuelan opposition leader Henrique Capriles ahead of Monday’s meeting to discuss ways to punish the socialist government, but the opposition ally is also pressuring other countries in the region to take diplomatic action against Venezuela.

It is likely that Almagro and other right-wing governments will attempt to declare a “violation of constitutional order” in Venezuela, HispanTV reports. This would allow the OAS to ramp up support for the country’s possible suspension.

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Two-thirds of the 35 OAS member countries would need to vote on applying the charter to trigger the suspension. Thus far, 18 countries have openly supported action against Venezuela: Argentina, Bahamas, Barbados, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Saint Lucia, Uruguay and the U.S.

“It is false that a coup d'etat has been consummated in Venezuela,” Venezuela’s Foreign Ministry wrote in a statement. 

“On the contrary, its institutions have adopted legal corrections to stop the deviant and coup-like action of the opposition parliamentarians openly declared in contempt of the decisions issued by the highest court of the Republic.”

On Saturday, the foreign ministers of Mercosur nations Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay and Paraguay met to discuss Venezuela, issuing a statement to voice their "concern."

Meanwhile, the Bolivian government along with left-wing parties and groups from Latin America, including the Communist Party of Chile and the Liberty and Refoundation Party of Honduras, denounced the OAS’ attacks on Venezuela.