Venezuela ruling party suspends leader for echoing criticism: media

Source: Reuters

Venezuela's ruling Socialist Party has suspended one of its directors for echoing a former official's recent criticism over corruption, local media reported on Wednesday, a sign President Nicolas Maduro is facing growing dissent from his own ranks.

Hector Navarro said he was disciplined for backing statements by former Planning Minister Jorge Giordani that accused Maduro of failing to stem multibillion-dollar fraud via currency controls, according to media reports.

The string of critiques marks a sharp divergence from the 14-year rule of late socialist leader Hugo Chavez, whose insistence on military-style obedience helped maintain discipline within an often unruly coalition.

"I've been officially informed that the National Board (which has not met for a month) has decided to send me to the party's Disciplinary Tribunal," Navarro wrote in a message to university activists that was cited by local media.

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