(RFI).- Vice President of VenezuelaDelcy Rodriguez presented to parliament, which is dominated by the ruling party, a proposal for “Law against fascism, neo-fascism and similar expressions” which he claims is the ruler’s request Nicolas Maduro “protect” the people from fascist violence, as “good father”.

The document consists of 30 articles that are intended to “severely” punish any actions considered to be fascist propaganda, including the dissemination of messages on social networks.

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He justified this by the violent events that arose from the mass protests of 2014 and 2017, as well as the slogan “To end” opposition leader Maria Corina Machado, which he compared to Nazism. He also cited as one of his justifications that there are fascist parties in Venezuela, such as the New Order, despite the fact that this is an organization that has been extinct for 22 years.

The articles of the law describe “neoliberalism” and to “moral conservatism” as general features of fascism, although it does not define them and prohibits the dissemination of messages that are considered “denigrating democracy, its institutions and republican values.”

The draft, which was approved during the first debate but would need to be approved a second time to come into force, allows for the dissolution of NGOs and political parties, as well as disqualification for taking positions that the law deems fascist or neo-fascist.

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“And finally, it establishes a set of criminal and administrative sanctions that create very special types of crimes and include a special aggravating factor for any punishable act when it is carried out or increased for fascist, neo-fascist or similar reasons,” Delcy Rodriguez said.

“disclosure of prohibited messages” on radio or television will be punished by cancellation of the concession, and “electronic or print media” will be subject to fines ranging from 50,000 to 100,000 “multiples of the exchange rate published by the Central Bank”, equivalent to up to $100,000.

Opposition and civil society representatives warned that the bill seeks to criminalize dissent in the middle of a presidential election year.