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Venezuela: Political Crisis and U.S. Policy
Political and Economic Crisis
Venezuela has been in a deep crisis under the authoritarian
rule of NicolAs Maduro of the United Socialist Party of
Venezuela (PSUV). Maduro was narrowly elected in 2013
after the death of populist President Hugo ChAvez, who had
served since 1999. Maduro's regime has exhibited high
levels of corruption and economic mismanagement, which
have exacerbated the impact of a decline in global oil prices
on the country's economy. According to the International
Monetary Fund, Venezuela's economy contracted by 18%
and inflation exceeded 1.37 million percent in 2018.
Nevertheless, Maduro has used the courts, security forces,
and electoral council to repress political opposition and
quash dissent. According to the Venezuelan human rights
organization Foro Penal, the regime held 892 political
prisoners as of early March 2019. Most Venezuelans and
much of the international community considered Maduro's
May 2018 reelection illegitimate.
Shortages in food and medicine, declines in purchasing
power, and a collapse of social services have created a
humanitarian crisis in Venezuela that is affecting the entire
region. According to household surveys, the percentage of
Venezuelans living in poverty increased from 48.4% in
2014 to 87% in 2017. Health indicators, particularly infant
and maternal mortality rates, have worsened. Previously
eradicated diseases, such as diphtheria and measles, have
returned and spread. As of January 2019, United Nations
(U.N.) agencies estimated that at least 3.4 million
Venezuelans (1 in 10) had left the country, 2.7 million of
whom were in Latin America and the Caribbean. Migrant
flows could increase, as successive blackouts since March
2019 have worsened conditions considerably.
Interim Government Challenges Maduro Regime
Since January 2019, the democratically elected, opposition-
controlled National Assembly and its president, Juan
Guaid6, have sought to establish an interim government.
Three months later, the United States and 53 other countries
(including most of the European Union [EU] and 15
Western Hemisphere countries) recognize Guaid6 as
interim president of Venezuela and view the National
Assembly as Venezuela's only democratic institution.
Despite their backing, Maduro remains in power.
The National Assembly elected Guaid6 as its president on
January 5, 2019; he is a 35-year-old industrial engineer
from the Popular Will (VP) party of Leopoldo L6pez (under
house arrest). In mid-January, Guaid6 announced he was
willing to serve as interim president until new presidential
elections are held. He called for protests on January 23,
2019, the 61st anniversary of the ouster of another dictator.
Buoyed by massive turnout, Guaid6 took the oath of office
on that day. Under Guaid6's leadership, the National
Assembly has enacted resolutions declaring that President
Maduro's mandate is illegitimate, establishing a framework
Updated April 2, 2019
for a transition government, drafting a proposal to offer
amnesty for officials (including the military) who support
the transition, and creating a strategy for receiving
humanitarian assistance.
Guaid6's supporters had hoped that these actions, which
culminated in a large-scale effort to have Venezuelan
civilians bring assistance from the United States and others
into the country on February 23, 2019, would encourage
military officers to abandon the Maduro regime. According
to Foro Penal, National Guard troops acting on Maduro's
behest and armed civilian militias (colectivos) killed at least
five individuals (four indigenous people) and injured
hundreds as they blocked aid from entering the country.
While that aid remains blocked, both Guaid6 and Maduro
have agreed to allow the Red Cross to begin providing
large-scale assistance by mid-April 2019.
For now, the military high command remains loyal to
Maduro. Many military leaders have enriched themselves
through corruption, drug trafficking, and other illicit
industries. Others fear that they will face prosecution for
human rights abuses should a new government take office.
Human Rights Concerns
Human rights abuses have increased as security forces and
colectivos have quashed protests, detained and abused those
suspected of dissent, and used violence against civilians. In
August 2017, a U.N. Office of the High Commissioner for
Human Rights report documented human rights violations
perpetrated by Venezuelan security forces against protesters
during clashes that left more than 130 killed and thousands
injured. The International Criminal Court (ICC) is
examining the regime's serious human rights violations.
Since 2018, the Maduro regime has arrested and tortured
many of those it perceives as threats, including military
officers and opposition politicians. A February 2019
Amnesty International report documents serious human
rights abuses committed against some of the 900
individuals detained in January 2019. The regime recently
arrested Guaid6's chief of staff and barred Guaid6 from
seeking office for 15 years. The Supreme Court may also
remove Guaid6's legislative immunity from prosecution.
International Response
The international community remains divided over how to
respond to the multifaceted crisis in Venezuela. Russia,
Cuba (which has provided military support), Turkey, and
other countries support Maduro. Russia and China have
blocked efforts at the U.N. Security Council to recognize
the Guaid6 government and provided medical aid to
Maduro. Russia has also supported Venezuela's struggling
oil industry and sent military personnel and equipment,
prompting U.S. condemnation.
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