Venezuela: Left-wing politicians are loyal to President Maduro

"Hands off Venezuela!": This was the title of a signature campaign that Sahra Wagenknecht co-initiated in July 2005 as a European politician. Shortly before, today's left-wing faction leader visited Venezuelan President Hugo Chàvez. In her travelogue she praised the atmosphere of conversation and the "charismatic nature" of the man, who was internationally controversial because of his power politics.

Chávez has not ruled for years. The leaflet and the travelogue are still on Wagenknecht's homepage - the support of many left-wing politicians for the socialist-oriented government in Caracas has not changed to this day.

Nicolàs Maduro has been President of the oil-rich country for five years. The autocrat is currently experiencing the biggest crisis of his reign. Hundreds of thousands go on the road because of catastrophic economic conditions, want to sell the 56-year-olds. During the recent protests, Venezuelan President Juan Guaidó declared himself interim head of state and promptly received support from US President Donald Trump.

The White House called Maduro to a peaceful transfer of power and threatened the Socialist otherwise with severe consequences. "All options are on the table," said US President Donald Trump. Washington and the EU states backed Guaidó and called for new elections.

Unlike some left-wing politicians who have been behind the supposedly socialist government in Venezuela for years. Above all, the vice-chairman of the left-wing group, Heike Hänsel, and the member of the Bundestag Sevim Dagdelen.

This is an orchestrated coup d'état supported by the USA, tweeted Hänsel. "The federal government may not recognize the putsch president!"

This is an orchestrated #state strike, US-supported and initiated by speech by US Vice President Pence. The federal government may not recognize the putsch president! #Venezuela
"Venezuela's parliamentary president declared himself head of state" https://t.co/cZPLcHZZN0

The coup attempt in Venezuela is supported by "US President Trump - as ordered -" tweeted Dagdelen. Every upstanding democrat must condemn this coup attempt. "Criticism of the government is legitimate, a coup is not and clearly to condemn!"

The coup attempt in #Venezuela is supported by US President #Trump as ordered.
Every upstanding democrat has to condemn this coup attempt. Criticism of the government is legitimate, a coup is not and clearly to condemn! pic.twitter.com/T2CbZCKjX6

The clear support for Maduro is not surprising, but is still remarkable. After all, his style of governance is more than questionable: the police routinely deliver bloody street battles with demonstrators, Maduro tries to disempower the opposition - his recent re-election was unlawful in the G7's view.

The vote had violated international standards, said the heads of state and government of Germany, Britain, France, Canada, Italy, Japan, the US and the EU in May 2018. Democratic fundamental rights have been disregarded. The choice and the result are therefore neither legitimate nor credible. Observers now speak in connection with Maduro of a dictatorship. Above all, he owes his power to the military - it is still behind him.

But where does the close link of the left to Venezuela come from?

The solidarity with former states of the Soviet sphere of influence - including Russia and Cuba - has a great tradition in the party, which is rooted in the communist movement of the Federal Republic as well as in the SED government of the GDR.

The Chemnitz political scientist Tom Mannewitz, however, believes that the historical frets are not the crucial point. Instead, the driving force is anti-Americanism and anti-imperialism, as he told SPIEGEL in an earlier interview. According to the motto: "The enemy of my enemy is my friend."

That the opinion of the possible change of power in Venezuela in the ranks of the left is by no means unanimous, shows the tweet by the Bundestag deputy Stefan Liebich, who belongs to the reform wing of his party. He writes that the recognition of the self-proclaimed president by Trump would not solve the problems in the country. At the same time he emphasizes: "The protests against Maduro in Venezuela are absolutely understandable in view of the situation in the country."

The protests against #Maduro in #Venezuela are absolutely understandable given the situation in the country. The recognition of the self-proclaimed president # Guaidó by Trump, Bolsonaro and Co., however, solves no problem, on the contrary. The federal government should not participate.

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