Latin America
Related: About this forumVenezuela’s Downward Spiral
As the effort to oust President Nicolás Maduro of Venezuela by referendum gains support, his government is ratcheting up repression. On Friday, Mr. Maduro declared a 60-day state of emergency, saying it was necessary to quash what he described as a coup and confront all the international and national threats our nation is facing.
The threats Venezuelans face today are not the result of foreign or domestic conspiracies, but Mr. Maduros disastrous leadership. On his watch, the countrys health care system has atrophied so severely that scores of Venezuelans are dying every week because of chronic shortages of medicine and ill-equipped hospitals.
Violence has soared as armed gangs loyal to the government roam the streets. During the first three months of this year, 4,696 people were murdered in Venezuela, according to the government, and in 2015 more than 17,700 were killed. The three-month death toll is higher than the 3,545 civilians killed last year in Afghanistan, a record number.
Shortages of food and basic goods are likely to worsen as Venezuelas economy continues to contract this year. Political prisoners, meanwhile, have languished behind bars for years, victims of a corrupt and broken justice system.
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/05/17/opinion/venezuelas-downward-spiral.html
Marksman_91
(2,035 posts)The declaration of the "state of emergency" plus the wave of repression that took place today following opposition protests all over the country has finally shown Maduro's true colors, even to some who were considered his allies (I guess until now). And a prominent Venezuelan general recently declared also that, should the referendum take place, he would vote against Maduro. Nicolás is on his way out, and Chavismo will be buried with him, hopefully.
Bacchus4.0
(6,837 posts)I assume the VP takes over and then chavistas retain control which is all they want. If there is any competitive election, chavistas will lose.