Prior to the 1990s, Venezuela was seen as a stable and strong democratic institution, — this has since then largely deteriorated. This is largely attributed to the presidency of Hugo Chavez from 1999 until 2013, followed by his successor Nicolas Maduro, who took power following the death of Chavez.
Chavez’s rise to power was largely supported on the idea that he would provide economic prosperity for the Venezuelan people. He gained supporters over a socialist agenda promising to end corruption, vanish poverty, and establish a new political system. Chavez was the first of many Latin American political leaders part of the Pink Tide movement and the rise of socialism. However, the longer that Chavez maintained in power, the greater the amount of reforms employed and the more that he abused his position of power.
Despite the hardships that Chavez began to exercise on the nation, Nicolas Maduro only further worsened the state of the nation. The legacy of communism in Venezuela began with Chavez and people have long been pushing against it, yet the people have little to no power. Venezuelan people have largely pushed back against this communist agenda due to the large lack of basic necessities, labor, medicine, and insecurity within the state. Maduro’s presidency has caused mass migration leading many people to leave the country in search of a better life. Communism has created a very unstable environment and Maduro’s control of the military has allowed him to retain so much power and further sustain the narco-state.
Jan.10, 2025 was a critical point for Venezuelan politics that resulted in the re-establishment of an authoritarian regime. Nicholas Maduro swore himself into his third presidential term, following what appeared to be a flawed election. The opposition candidate or president-elect, Edumundo Gonzalez, declared this act as a “coup d’etat” undermining any characteristics of democracy.
People continue to take to the streets, but not to only protesting one singular election — they are protesting their frustrations with an entire political structure that has been in place for decades. The once very rich nation which had prospered in the 20th century, continues to fall at the hands of a dictator with rich natural resources and drugs at the center of the issue. The Venezuelan government relies on the oil-industry and large drug trade in order to gain large sums of wealth and pay off many individuals involved in government positions.
So where does this leave the Venezuelan people? Unfortunately, political struggles continue to persist with no end in sight to the current authoritarian regime. Despite very recent efforts from opposition candidate Edmundo Gonzalez, backed by Maria Corina Machado, to take down Maduro’s government, it has become increasingly difficult as they now face persecution and have gone into hiding. Edmundo Gonzalez was expected to return to Venezuela the day of the presidential inauguration to assume his position as the new president, however Maduro blocked all ways of entry to the country and assumed power for himself. Journalists covering the issue and the protests are being largely silenced and many are disappearing at the hands of the military. The United States has placed a bounty on Maduro’s arrest for 25 million dollars charged for narco-terrorism, but there continues to be no solution or advancements against his rule.
The Venezuelan people continue to fear the same repression that they have long lived with. This has become a catalyst for the desire of democratic transition, and the people of the nation show their unwavering support for the opposition. Not only within Venezuela, but people around the world have taken part in protests in hopes of a better future for the nation.