There is a blow clearly in progress. It did not start on January 24 but a day earlier. The coup began on Twitter when Mr. Pence, vice president of a country responsible for the deaths of 30 million people from 1945 until today, decided that the legitimate President of a country should no longer be so “; These are the words of Professor Luciano Vasapollo, professor of the “Sapienza” of the University of Rome, delegate of the Rector for International Relations with Latin America, who spoke about the Venezuelan crisis. Vasapollo explained that the coup has no legal basis: all the most important constitutionalists in Venezuela have explained how the opposition’s attempt to justify the usurpation of the President’s function as a vacuum of power does not enjoy legal reference. “President Nicolás Maduro Moros swore in front of the supreme constitutional power on January 10, as established by the Constitution in cases where, like the current one, the Parliament is in a situation of rebellion.” The Italian professor recalled that also the art. 233 of the Constitution, which the extreme rightist puts coup to support this coup, speaks of the permanent impediment of the president, not the vacuum of power: “The constitution strictly defines 5 cases of permanent impediment: resignation of the president, death, sentence of the Court Supreme declaring his dismissal, declaration of the Supreme Court declaring his physical or mental incapacity, the declaration of abandonment of office “.

Vasapollo also spoke about the moments when he was an international observer of the presidential elections, which confirmed the second term of President Maduro, and recalled that “I could see how dozens of opposition candidates, Henri Falcon and Bertucci, were there, how there were public debates among all of them. In the elections, absolutely free and transparent, millions of Venezuelans participated who also challenged the terrorism of the extreme right to go to vote, giving a lesson in democracy and civilization to the world. I saw him as a direct witness “; On that occasion Maduro triumphed with 68% of the votes. The university professor also stressed that the part of the right that did not want to participate in the elections chose to keep burning people in the streets just because they were blacks or Chavistas. “Then there is the singular case of Democratic Action of Ramion Allup, more moderate, who had initially granted his adhesion and then withdrew it by order of the United States. “Anticipated elections requested by the opposition itself, to which the part of the coup opposition could not participate by imposition of Washington.”

During the interview with the microphones of “L’Antidiplomatico” Vasapollo, a great connoisseur of this reality, counterattacked against Europe talking about criminal behavior related to the ultimatum of Spain, France and Germany addressed to the Maduro government: it is ” Governments that no longer represent their people, think about Macron, who want to grant the legitimate government of Venezuela 8 days to hold elections. What brutality, what arrogance, what sadness, to such an extent has servility come to the United States? On the contrary, Italy has taken a more dignified and courageous position. “ Vasapollo, referring to the position of the government chaired by Giuseppe Conte that has been divided, wanted to emphasize that the position of the Lega di Salvini is consistent with those on the right who decided to attack the sovereignty of Venezuela to reach the “humanitarian war” that serves the United States to plunder the country’s resources. “On the contrary, the 5 Stelle Movement, and I want to mention in particular the position of Alessandro Di Battista and Manlio Di Stefano in particular, has decided to openly challenge the imperialist logic and I would like to congratulate them publicly.” According to Vasapollo, the Italian government has once again shown its duplicity with Salvini, taking sides with the worst of coups and who is fueling the “humanitarian” war to steal Venezuelan oil.

“It is clear that it will be a tough battle, but thanks to the 5 Stelle Movement, we must recognize it, it is nevertheless a result because we already know that with a Renzi government or a Gentiloni government there would be the usual figure of the doormat with Italy accompanying this ultimatum madness” . The usual role that a government only made by the Lega would have done “. Continuing with his analysis, the professor also recalled that “in all this they have weighed the impressive demonstrations in which our organizations have demonstrated in 6 cities, with hundreds and hundreds of people, their support for the legitimate president Maduro. The opening of a mediation together with Uruguay and Mexico is an intelligent position that serves to avoid a butchery for which, on the other hand, they work from right to right: Fratelli d’Italia, Pd, Lega and Forza Italia “.

When asked about future scenarios, he also reiterated that Moscow, with the statements of Foreign Minister Lavrov, was clear: with Russia that made it clear that it was ready to use all available means to respect international law regarding the events of Venezuela. “We need to be clear about what can happen in Venezuela. Another criminal war of the United States would not be a regional conflict with Colombia, Brazil and other countries that would bear the consequences on their skin. It would not be just to bring the Middle East to Latin America. “ According to Vasapollo, there is a risk of a world war with Russia, China, India and other countries that would oppose US unilateralism. To conclude his speech, he stressed that “despite the pressure of the bishops in Venezuela, the Pope, who does not recognize the coup d’état but asks for peace and dialogue, is making an effort that an atheist Marxist like me can only emphasize with admiration and respect. The ultimatum launched by some European Union countries to the government of Venezuela is in the opposite direction to the appeal launched by the Pope because “it means accelerating the spiral of violence that led to the destruction of Iraq, Afghanistan, Ukraine, Libya and Syria.”

Dario Caputo

ARTICLE 233, VENEZUELAN CONSTITUTION