Venezuela heading in the wrong direction

My unbridled approval for the participatory democracy which Venezuela is trying to establish, and concern for its health, has just been dealt another blow. (The first was when El Presidenté declared citizens to be part of the military insofar as asking them to turn in other civilians for suspicious acts or actions against the state.)

Whomsoever offends or disrespects the President by spoken, written word or any other means, will be sentenced to serve 6 to 30 months in jail for a serious offense.

This sentence is established by article 148 of the Partial Penal Code Reform bill just approved by 60% in the National Assembly (AN); it also states that, for a minor offense, the prison sentence would be reduced by half. Furthermore, the article indicates that the prison term would increase by a third, if the offense is a public event.

Article 149 highlights that sanctions mentioned in the preceding article, will also be applied to those who offend the Executive Vice President, magistrates of the Supreme Justice Tribunal, Ministers, Governors, National Assembly Members, any director of the National Electoral Council, or the Public Defender, the General Prosecutor or high military officials. The term will be reduced by half, and by a third, if the offense takes place against mayors.

VHeadline article

Christ on a cracker.