WASHINGTON — In another demonstration that the United Nations is the laughingstock of the world, Venezuela, Malaysia and Angola were voted into the non-permanent seats on the international body’s Security Council.
Reuters reported that New Zealand also joined the council, and all four countries will be on the council from January 1, 2015 for two years. Spain beat Turkey in a third round of run-off voting, but lost to New Zealand in the end.
The U.N.’s General Assembly, made up of 193 members, elected Venezuela with 181 votes, 187 for Malaysia and Angola received 190 votes. They ran unopposed after being chosen to represent their regional groups but needed a 2/3 majority vote by the assembly to secure that spot.
The last time Venezuela made a bid for the Security Council was in 2006, but did not get the 2/3 vote necessary due to a successful U.S. campaign against this bid. That was due to Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez comparing U.S. President Bush to the devil. This time, the U.S. did not oppose Venezuela’s bid for a seat.
Yet, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro praised his predecessor and mentor, the deceased Hugo Chavez, for this victory. He said, “This is the victory of Hugo Chavez Frias. Chavez keeps winning battles in the world … It’s a day in which the world has supported our fatherland.”
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