The days of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his regime might finally be numbered. Massive protests were staged on Wednesday in Caracas and across the country. Hundreds of thousands of Venezuelans took to the streets to protest the government as the nation marked the 207th anniversary of the revolution that led to its independence. The anti-Maduro sentiment boiled over into violence with dozens injured and at least three people known to have been killed. National Guard and government-backed militias clashed with protesters in a series of running battles. More protests are expected to take place today and through the weekend.
Opposition groups in Venezuela were galvanized by the Supreme Court’s attempt to dissolve the opposition-dominated legislature. Venezuela’s Supreme Court is controlled by loyalists to Maduro. The move set off a firestorm of dissent, so much so that Maduro ordered the court to backtrack on much of its ruling. Since then, Maduro has continued to tighten his hold on power through other measures such as barring his most likely candidate in the next presidential election from holding political office for 15 years.
This latest protest movement is different from previous ones that sought the removal of the government from power. The demands this time are centered around a timetable for elections, which the opposition is confident it will win. Along with the new strategy comes a renewed presence in the streets that does not appear ready to lose energy.
Despite the prolonged opposition and protest movements aligned against him, Maduro has survived and continues to hold power. As the political and economic crises facing Venezuela continue, Maduro remains committed to his strategy of applying a socialist band aid to the country’s wounds. Yesterday, authorities seized a General Motors factory in Valencia. Normal operations are no longer possible and GM has announced it is suspending operations in the country. It’s not clear exactly how seizing the factory will help the Venezuelan economy. Realistically, the move was probably made to rally support from Maduro’s political base.
Maduro’s take on the here and now has always been suspect. While the nation suffers, he is either unwilling or incapable of putting forward effective measures to push Venezuela back onto an even keel. As the opposition strengthens and protests intensify, Maduro’s inaction makes him appear more like Nero and Venezuela more like Rome with each passing day.
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