Dear Editor

Maduro (Venezuela) has just been accused of an actual or attempted self-coup (or autocoup, from the Spanish autogolpe). This is a charade in the form of putsch or coup d’état in which a nation’s leader, despite having come to power through legal means, dissolves or renders powerless the national legislature and unlawfully assumes extraordinary powers not granted under normal circumstances. Other measures taken may include annulling the nation’s constitution, suspending civil courts and having the head of government assume dictatorial powers.

Since the 1960s there have been more than 100 of these self-coup charades in Africa.

Do you think the White City Stadium “assassination attempt” was a self-coup (autocoup) charade? Do you think there will be another autocoup charade to dissolve or render powerless the national legislature and unlawfully assume extraordinary powers not granted under normal circumstances?

The president’s speech at the ZDF celebrations Tuesday was disturbing. I understood it in other words “dissent will not be tolerated, if anyone protests about anything they will be shot by the ZDF”.

Kind Regards

TL