Venezuela President Gets Rare Blast of Live TV Criticism
Source: ABC News
President Nicolas Maduro first declared an economic emergency due to "catastrophic" inflation and growth figures and then endured the indignity of a nationally televised scolding from the head of a newly empowered opposition Congress.
Congress leader Henry Ramos wagged his finger inches from the president's head in a state-of-the-nation rebuttal that was broadcast live across the South American country Friday — unprecedented media access for an opponent of the country's socialist revolution.
Neither Maduro nor his predecessor, the late President Hugo Chavez, had ever contended with a hostile audience for a speech to Congress, but foes of the administration took control of the institution last week for the first time in 17 years, carried to victory on a wave of economic turmoil.
The government's Central Bank, which had kept key economic indicators to itself for more than a year, dumped a batch of new bad news earlier in the day.
Read more: http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/venezuela-president-rare-blast-live-tv-criticism-36328614
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