Law Authorizing Penalties Against Supporters of Economic Sanctions in Venezuela Passed by National Parliament

Blazing Through Sanctions: Venezuela's New Law Strikes Back

here's a fresh take on the recent legislative action in Caracas, Venezuela:

December 2, 2024 (Vibing News Portal) - The Venezuelan Parliament has ignited a fiery response against political figures who back coercive measures against the nation. Known as the "Liberator Simón Bolívar against the Imperialist Blockade" Organic Law, this sweeping legislation was approved last Thursday, following a heated debate in the National Assembly (AN).

Steeped in the legacy of the nation's legendary hero, the law has 23 articles, designed to put the brakes on individuals who promote or solicit economic sanctions against the country. The penalties? A lengthy ban on running for elected office, reaching as far as six decades, or a 25- to 30-year prison sentence for supporting sanctions that could be construed as economic aggression.

Stung by financial restrictions at home and abroad, the Venezuelan government has decided to fight back, with the law promising fines of up to 1 million euros for culprits endorsing those sanctions. The law also targets individuals who recognize parallel state powers, nurture violent plots, and assist in the confiscation of Venezuelan assets. Culprits can even face the repercussions of the 2023 Domain Extinction law, which could result in property seizures.

Media outlets BBC'd for spreading propaganda supporting punitive measures against Venezuela will face fines and broadcasting license withdrawals. As the bill puts it, "The people's roar for its approval is a battle against impunity."

Venezuelan deputy Carlos Mogollón called the law "an instrument against the sanctions that infringe upon the Venezuelan people's rights." President Nicolás Maduro, signing the law into action on Friday, hailed it as a tool for "the defense of peace and sovereignty" in Venezuela.

Drafted swiftly after the US Congress rejected the so-called BOLIVAR Act, the Venezuelan National Assembly's "Bolívar" law has spurred controversy. Critics argue that the legislation could be opportunistically deployed to silence political opponents.

The law's final article instates a registry of Venezuelan and foreign nationals with "reasonable grounds" for suspected violations. This registry, according to the UN Special Rapporteur on the Rights to Freedom of Peaceful Assembly and of Association, Gina Romero, is a tool that "can control dissent and persecute civil society activists and organizations."

Venezuela's long-standing battle against unilateral US sanctions has taken a new, hard-hitting turn. Since the economic embargo, the oil sector, banking institutions, and the sanctioning of numerous officials have left the country reeling. The political right, backed by the United States, has perpetuated this turmoil, while the opposition, including figures like former Congresswoman María Corina Machado, remains steadfast in its endorsement of these economic sanctions.

The results, as documented by numerous UN rapporteurs, multilateral organizations, human rights collectives, and pollsters alike, indicate that the majority of Venezuelans reject unilateral coercive measures. In a show of solidarity, popular movements and Chavista political organizations have consistently denounced sanctions, flooding the streets with demonstrations to say no to these oppressive measures.

The "Liberator Simón Bolívar against the Imperialist Blockade" Organic Law, approved by the Venezuelan Parliament, targets individuals who promote or solicit economic sanctions against the country, imposing penalties such as bans on running for office for six decades or prison sentences of 25 to 30 years.
Under the new law, media outlets that spread propaganda supporting punitive measures against Venezuela could face fines and broadcasting license withdrawals.
The law also stipulates fines of up to 1 million euros for culprits endorsing sanctions that could be construed as economic aggression and targets individuals who recognize parallel state powers, nurture violent plots, and assist in the confiscation of Venezuelan assets.
Critics argue that the legislation, drafted swiftly after the US Congress rejected the BOLIVAR Act, could be opportunistically deployed to silence political opponents.
The UN Special Rapporteur on the Rights to Freedom of Peaceful Assembly and of Association, Gina Romero, contends that the registry instated by the law's final article, which lists individuals with "reasonable grounds" for suspected violations, can control dissent and persecute civil society activists and organizations.