Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, Solidarity) | Oireachtas source

A Programme for a Partnership Government gives a commitment to protect and promote human rights. In that regard and to keep that commitment, I ask whether the Government will condemn what is a clear and ongoing coup attempt in Venezuela? It is a coup which is clearly made in the USA, it is directed by President Donald Trump, Vice President Mike Pence and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, it is co-ordinated with various right-wing governments in Latin America, and it is reinforced by talk of the US sending 5,000 troops to neighbouring Colombia. Unfortunately, President Maduro's policies in seeking to compromise with the right, bureaucratisation and corruption have opened the way to the right and this coup. If the coup is successful, it will be a disaster for working class people in Venezuela. It will be another hard right regime like President Bolsonaro's in Brazil. It will trample on human rights.

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