Posted on 05/17/2018 9:44:56 PM PDT by Texas Fossil
CARACAS Venezuela's diplomatically-isolated president received a show of support from Turkish counterpart Tayyip Erdogan on Thursday ahead of a weekend election boycotted by the opposition coalition and decried by Washington.
The United States, the European Union and major Latin American countries have criticized Sunday's vote in which leftist President Nicolas Maduro is likely to win re-election to a six-year term.
Critics say Maduro, a 55-year-old former bus driver who has presided over an economic meltdown, is virtually assured victory as two of his most popular opponents are banned from running and the electoral council is pro-government.
The Trump administration has threatened further sanctions and urged Latin America to cut off Venezuelan officials from financial systems and restrict their travel visas.
So foreign shows of support are particularly welcome as Maduro seeks to legitimize his likely re-election despite a brutal economic crisis that has Venezuelans skipping meals, succumbing to once controlled diseases, and emigrating en masse.
In a split screen chat broadcast live on Venezuelan state television on Thursday, Maduro and Erdogan held a stilted, translated conversation that had several technical problems.
"I wish you much success in the coming election, and a month later I think we're going to have success in Turkey. One of my first tasks will be a state visit to Venezuela," said Erdogan, in reference to Turkey's presidential and parliamentary elections on June 24.
(Excerpt) Read more at voanews.com ...
Yes. Thanks for the great graphics.
It makes no difference what they call themselves. (They love to argue about the difference in all the flavors and constantly tell you that you don’t understand the differences)
Totalitarianism in all forms is Evil!
Progressive
Socialist
Marxist
Fascist
Communist
Islamist
Bureaucrap
All Evil!
A very good question. I guess the answer is, they have been in NATO since 1952. Is that an adequate reason? No.
You are correct.
Turkey - out of NATO.
Not sure we need a poll, but I agree with your observations. I am sure that Erdogan is in constant fear of that happening. Although his arrogance is terminal.
Yes. It is the ComDem way.
Why?
The Burn is a noisy old fraud. Who has never had a job in his life, except meddling in government.
I'm not sure it is essential, but it might help.
It will come.
How long do you think Putin will put up with Erdogan once Erdogan actually jumps?
My Syrian Kurd friends told me long ago that they felt Putin was playing with Erdogan.
It is like a cat playing with a mouse. Except we have provided some advanced weapons to the mouse.
How did Erdogan get so many of his people to believe his nonsense? Does Venezuela look that good to the Turks?
Only the brainwashed believe Erdogan’s nonsense. Many in Turkey believe it, all the media is owned or censored by the Government.
But in the case of the English, they will do almost anything for money. As in continuing to sell arms to a terrorist nation, Turkey.
Iran's President Hassan Rouhani, Russia's Vladimir Putin and Turkey's Tayyip Erdogan meet in Sochi, Russia November 22, 2017. (photo credit: SPUTNIK/MIKHAIL METZEL/KREMLIN VIA REUTERS) Cryptocurrency To the Rescue!
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