CARACAS: Venezuela’s Embattled Opposition
Venezuela’s embattled opposition vowed to overcome "fear" and thwart President Nicolas Maduro’s plans to be sworn in for another term, with defiant leaders renewing calls for mass protests and visiting the White House to rally international support.
Maduro’s Grip on Power
Maduro, 62, has ruled the oil-rich nation for over a decade since the death of his larger-than-life mentor Hugo Chavez, retaining an iron grip on power with the help of police, paramilitaries, and the armed forces.
Sworn In for Another Term
On Friday, Maduro is to be sworn in for a third six-year term, after swatting aside allegations he stole a July election from now-exiled opposition candidate Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia, who claims to have won in a landslide.
US Support for the Opposition
Ex-diplomat Gonzalez Urrutia, 75, visited the White House yesterday, meeting outgoing US President Joe Biden in a last-gasp effort to pressure Maduro into ceding power. The White House said Biden and Gonzalez Urrutia agreed that his "campaign victory should be honoured through a peaceful transfer back to democratic rule."
Warning from the US
There was also a warning from the US that Biden would be "closely" following the regime’s response to protests planned on Thursday, the eve of Maduro’s investiture. "Venezuelans should be allowed to express their political opinions peacefully without fear of reprisal from the military and police," the White House said.
Venezuela’s Response
Venezuela promptly labelled Biden’s support for the opposition "grotesque", as it severed diplomatic ties with Paraguay for expressing similar support for the opposition.
Call to ‘Overcome Fear’
With throngs of security forces now deployed across the Venezuelan capital Caracas – a clear warning to would-be protestors – there are growing fears that Thursday’s demonstrations could bring violent reprisals. However, opposition figurehead Maria Corina Machado told AFP that Venezuelans must overcome their fear and go onto the streets to claim their freedom.
The Challenge Ahead
It is unclear whether Venezuelans, wearied by decades of economic crisis and fearful of regime vengeance, can be persuaded again to demonstrate in large numbers. More than 20 people were killed and nearly 200 wounded in rioting that followed Maduro’s claim of election victory in July. Another 2,400 people were arrested in the crackdown, with authorities saying this week that about 1,500 had since been freed.
The Maduro Government’s Response
The Maduro government has vowed to deal harshly with future protests and threatened to jail Gonzalez Urrutia if he makes good on a promise to return to Venezuela this week.
Constitutional Crisis
Gonzalez Urrutia first met leaders in Argentina and Uruguay before continuing his international tour to the US. In addition to his sit-down with Biden, Gonzalez Urrutia said he had spoken "at length" with Mike Waltz, a congressman tapped by US President-elect Donald Trump to be his national security adviser. The two discussed the Jan 9 protests, Gonzalez Urrutia said on X, and Waltz "assured us that the US, and the world, will be alert to what happens in our country."
Conclusion
The fate of Venezuela hangs in the balance as the country teeters on the brink of constitutional crisis. Will the opposition be able to overcome fear and mobilize millions to take to the streets, or will the Maduro regime maintain its grip on power? Only time will tell.
FAQs
Q: What is the current situation in Venezuela?
A: The country is in the midst of a constitutional crisis, with President Nicolas Maduro set to be sworn in for another term despite allegations of election fraud.
Q: What is the opposition’s plan?
A: The opposition has vowed to mobilize millions to take to the streets to demand a peaceful transfer of power and democratic rule.
Q: What is the US position on the crisis?
A: The US has expressed support for the opposition and warned that it will closely follow the regime’s response to protests planned on Thursday.
Q: What is the Maduro government’s response to the crisis?
A: The government has vowed to deal harshly with future protests and threatened to jail Gonzalez Urrutia if he makes good on a promise to return to Venezuela this week.