Two for one in Venezuela

Flanked by his peers Cuba and Nicaragua, Nicolas Maduro proclaimed himself president of Venezuela for a third term despite being lacking legitimacy and roles. The inauguration was attended only by Miguel Diaz-Canel and Daniel Ortegadespots in whose mirrors you can see yourself reflected. This occurred one day after the confusing arrest and release of the opposition leader Maria Corina Machadoparodied by the minister of Interior Relations, Justice and Peace, Diosdado Hairfollowing the video that they supposedly made him record in the 20 minutes during which his whereabouts were unknown.

Machado had led a massive event in Caracas after having lived 133 days in hiding. He was on a motorcycle. Back to his shelter. The driver was wounded by a gunshot. Cabello made fun of the situation on his television show, With the gavel giving: «La Sayona (legendary character who punishes unfaithful men) pretends that they are chasing her. By the way, if you see a blue bag there, let me know?” In the video, Machado had said that she was “fine,” “safe.” That they had chased her, “and I dropped my purse, the little blue purse where I had my belongings.”

As if nothing had happened, Maduro swore the next day at the National Assembly. He never presented the voting records of the July 28 elections. That day, the National Electoral Council (CNE)dominated by its own, surprisingly suspended the transmission of the results. This is the same body that granted him victory in the rigged presidential elections of 2018, also questioned by the international community, in the face of a divided opposition, led by Henri Falcondissident of the Democratic Unity Table (MUD).

In practice, Venezuela has two presidents: one fraudulent and the other certified

This time, Machado had swept the opposition primaries, in October 2023, but was banned by a sanction from the Comptroller General of Venezuela which prevents him from holding public office for 15 years. The pretext, rejected by her: she did not include in her declaration of assets some bonuses that she received when she was a deputy. Designated as presidential candidate Edmundo González Urrutiaformer ambassador to Argentina. An unknown in his own country who had to climb the slope until reaching the summit with victory in the general elections, not recognized by the regime.

In practice, Venezuela It has two presidents: one fraudulent and the other certified. It’s not the first time it happens. The president of the National Assembly, Juan Guaidóto which Maduro alluded several times during his inauguration, was proclaimed interim president in January 2019. Since then there have been two legislative and judicial spheres. Those of the opposition, in exile. The same fate as Guaidó, after having been recognized by fifty governments. Senior military officials, pampered by Maduro with ministerial positions, oil concessions and mining projects, turned their backs on him, as did their opposition counterparts in 2022.

As interim president, Guaidó would have achieved the freezing of Venezuelan assets abroad, such as the gold deposited in the Bank of Englandvalued at one billion dollars. The support of other governments, starting with that of donald trumpwas diluted as the strategy did not give the expected result: the fall of the regime. González Urrutia, supported by the now elected president of USAhas something more than a constitutional tool: the evidence of having defeated Maduro at the polls. Are they enough? That is the doubt, given the limited firepower of international pressure.

After the protests of recent years, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) exposed the repressive strategy implemented by the regime on the occasion of the elections

Argentina, Costa Rica, Peru, Panama, Dominican Republic, Uruguay and Paraguay They broke off relations with Venezuelasupported, among others, by Russia, China and Iran. Virtual rivals of USAwithout diplomatic ties with Maduro since 2019, although that facet does not accompany the economic one. Although the regime blames USA and Europe of the economic deterioration, the North American government partially relaxed the sanctions in October 2023 as a result of the agreement with the opposition for the elections. That authorization expired in April 2024, but the oil company Chevron managed to extend it until April 2025.

The economic recovery after hyperinflation, from 2017 to 2021, with price increases of three digits per month and monetary reconversions by which several zeros were eliminated from the bolivars, as well as dollarization, served as an argument for the regime to dissemble from the poverty down to the meager pocket salary, only above that received by Cubans and Haitians.

In this context, after the protests of recent years, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) He exposed the repressive strategy implemented by the regime on the occasion of the elections. The report says Venezuela: serious violations of human rights in the electoral context that there were three stages:

• In the first, during the pre-election period, the State hindered the political participation of the opposition, using control of various institutions such as the Public Ministrythe Comptroller General of the Republic and the Supreme Court of Justice. The regime arbitrarily detained opponents, human rights defenders and social leaders, and intimidated and disqualified opposition leaders.
• The second phase took place during the presidential elections. There were serious allegations of electoral fraud and widespread discontent among the population. Anticipating electoral fraud, the opposition collected 83.5% of the national records. Proof of the triumph of González Urrutia.
• In the third stage, the regime launched the Operation Tun Tun. It left a balance of 25 deaths, more than 2,000 arbitrary arrests, forced disappearances, torture and other serious violations of human rights thanks to the co-option of state institutions by the Executive power; corruption, and control of public powers. Free way for impunity.

The same impunity with which the regime maintains the three powers in a fist in the style of its allies Cuba and Nicaragua. In the meantime, he returned companies and assets expropriated during Chávez’s time and reestablished relations with Fedecamerasthe business union that took out Miraflores Palace to the father of 21st century socialism for 47 hours in 2002. The bolibourgeoisie was scalded by several corruption scandals. Among them, the flight of 16.6 billion dollars. About 65 officials and businessmen close to the city fell Tareck El Aissamiformer Minister of Petroleum, arrested and also accused of conspiring with the opposition and USA to take down Maduro.

Note: this is an article republished from the media “El Interin” through a cooperation agreement between both parties for the dissemination of journalistic content. original link.