Venezuela's election authorities have put in motion the election of a new assembly that would be tasked with rewriting the country's constitution.
It's all part of President Nicolas Maduro's vision for solving the political and economic crisis in Venezuela.
But as Juan Carlos Lamas reports, many Venezuelans think the call for a new assembly and a new constitution is simply a ploy by the country's president to keep himself in power.
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SCRIPT:
NARRATION:
President Nicolás Maduro's announcement of a plan to rewrite Venezuela's constitution has put a wave of violent unrest in motion in a country that was already deeply divided.
The opposition has organized near daily demonstrations since the beginning of April… with people across the country taking part in marches and sit-ins, making blockades out of garbage and Molotov cocktails out of feces.
The President of the Venezuelan Parliament, Julio Borges, says Maduro's decision is not only irresponsible, he says it's also illegal.
SOT1: Julio Borges, President of the Venezuelan Parliament (In English)
"The constitution that Maduro is proposing is not a real constitution. It will not be elected by the people, but by different sectors of society. Any regular citizen cannot have the right to vote in a secret, direct and universal vote."
NARRATION:
Maduro's plan is to disband disband the current assembly, and create a new constituent assembly super body with power to rewrite the constitution and shake up public powers.
Some of the assembly members would be elected at local level…others would be chosen from various groups, such as workers, farmers, pensioners, and indigenous people.
German Escarra is a member of the Presidential Commission charged with taking Maduro's plan to the people.
Sot2: German Escarrá, Member, Presidential Commission (in Spanish, English over-dub)
"We are going through a tough political moment. We have exhausted all our attempts at dialogue. Now, people in Venezuela can request elections that will lead to the writing of a new constitution. That way we'll be able to re-construct the country, and achieve peace."
NARRATION:
Opposition demonstrators say the plan is completely undemocratic ---- that the new assembly would only be made up of Maduro's supporters.
SOT3: Rosaura Sanz, Opposition Supporter (in Spanish w English overdub)
"Only those who work for the government of President Nicolas Maduro can vote for this reform. What happens to the rest of us? Do we not have the right to vote? That is why we have taken to the streets, and we will continue to do so, because this is a coup against our constitution and against our country, which we have to defend."
NARRATION:
But President Maduro still has the support of millions of people who believe he can bring peace to the country.
Sot4: Pedro Mejias, Government Supporter (in Spanish, with English overdub)
"If Maduro's decision to create a new constitution will indeed bring about peace, then I support it, but only if the new assembly works for the needs of Venezuelans."
NARRATON:
For now, at least, the lines have been drawn. Maduro insists he's going to create a new constitution, while opposition leaders continue their demands for elections where each citizen casts his or her own vote, in secret ballot. Juan Carlos Lamas, Caracas.