Presidents of Southern Common Market Summit, Mercosur, member countries are holding a plenary session in Mendoza, Argentina, where they will discuss the possible expulsion of Venezuela from the organization.
Regional opponents of President Nicolas Maduro and the Bolivarian Revolution have vowed to retaliate against so-called “human rights abuses” and “violations of power.”
Argentine Foreign Minister Jorge Faurie, for example, has threatened to apply a democratic clause that could remove Venezuela from the regional organization if it moves forward with its July 30 National Constituent Assembly.
“If Maduro maintains the call for a National Constituent Assembly and does not open a channel of dialogue with the opposition sectors to call free and transparent elections, we will apply the Protocol of Ushuaia, the step taken when one of the states has altered the condition of democracy,” Faurie said, Perfil reported.
“Four member states of the regional bloc are willing to implement the Ushuaia protocol,” Faurie added, while admitted that some of the delegates participating in the meeting are not in total agreement.
The Venezuelan flag has been reportedly removed from the presidential plenary session, Infobae reported. Mercosur is expected to announce a final decision on Venezuela’s possible expulsion later on Friday.
Speaking at the plenary session, Bolivian President Evo Morales reaffirmed his country's support for Maduro and the Bolivarian Revolution, warning against Mercosur "becoming an accomplice to intervention in Venezuela."
"Our obligation as a region is to avoid any foreign intrusion, any intervention," Morales said, accusing the United States of conspiring against Venezuela for economic interests.
"For nobody is it hidden or a secret that behind the political problems of Venezuela is the United States. Behind this blow to Maduro are economic interests that are looking for Venezuelan oil."
Venezuela is absent from the Mercosur meeting because it considers it illegal.
A statement issued by Caracas on Wednesday said “the ongoing reckless use of a body for integration as a means of political hostility against the government and people of Venezuela is alarming.”
Prior to the launch of the Mercosur conference earlier this week, social movements held a People's Summit in the city of Mendoza, offering full support for Venezuela’s government.
“We must keep in mind that what is happening today in the continent, especially in Venezuela, is an imperialist attack that has a fundamental objective to recolonize us, to end our sovereignty and to take possession of all the abundant natural resources with which our countries count on,” Venezuelan Ambassador to Argentina Carlos Eduardo Martinez told supporters.
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