CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro is currently facing more international criticism than ever before during his 12 years in power. The self-proclaimed socialist leader is widely believed to have lost last year’s election by a significant margin, leading to accusations from the United States and other countries that the election was fraudulent. Maduro resorted to using security forces to suppress and detain his opponents.
Despite these challenges, Maduro is set to be inaugurated for a third term on Friday, while the opposition candidate who claims victory is promising to return from exile before then. Maduro has faced numerous hurdles since taking over from the late Hugo Chávez in 2012, including a drone attack, mass protests due to the country’s economic crisis, international investigations for human rights violations, and allegations of drug trafficking.
The upcoming term is expected to be Maduro’s toughest yet and will have a significant impact on the future of Venezuela’s already weakened democracy. A biopic released during last year’s campaign highlighted Maduro’s early life in a working-class neighborhood of Caracas where he was torn between pursuing a career in baseball or politics.
After being exposed to his father’s radical beliefs, Maduro spent time in Cuba for ideological training before returning to become a bus driver and union organizer. He aligned himself with Chávez following a failed coup in 1992 and later played a key role in implementing Chávez’s agenda of redistributing the country’s oil wealth and political power.
Maduro’s leadership was tested after Chávez’s passing in 2013, as the nation faced economic turmoil and internal unrest. Despite challenges and criticism, Maduro has remained in power by relying on security forces to suppress dissent. His presidency has been marked by economic collapse, political turmoil, and ongoing opposition protests.
As Maduro prepares for his third term amid mounting international criticism, the future of Venezuela’s democracy hangs in the balance.
Maduro’s grip on power in Venezuela seems as strong as ever, despite facing numerous challenges and controversies. In 2018, the International Criminal Court launched a criminal investigation into potential crimes against humanity. As the crackdown persisted, the 2018 presidential race saw opposition figures excluded from running, prompting a boycott from their camp. Many nations, led by the U.S., decried Maduro’s re-election as illegitimate, throwing their support behind Juan Guaidó, head of the National Assembly, as the rightful leader of Venezuela. The situation escalated further with the Trump administration’s imposition of harsh oil sanctions, intensifying unrest.
Subsequently, a former U.S. Green Beret orchestrated a covert operation, followed by a military uprising and the onset of the global COVID-19 pandemic. Despite these tumultuous events, Maduro managed to weather the storm, consolidating his power as opposition forces faltered. By 2022, he had earned the moniker “Super Bigote,” a nod to his trademark thick mustache and his knack for defying expectations. As he geared up for the 2024 election, Maduro remained steadfast in his belief that reports of widespread support for his opponent, Edmundo González, were fabricated by adversaries seeking to sow discord.
Following a disputed victory marred by allegations of electoral fraud, Maduro resorted to employing security forces to silence dissent, detaining political opponents and critics without explanation. Recent reports indicate that González’s son-in-law was abducted by unidentified individuals, while a prominent attorney specializing in free speech, Carlos Correa, was also seized by masked assailants. The government has refrained from providing any official response regarding these incidents.
Michael Shifter, a former president of the Inter-American Dialogue in Washington, warned that such repressive measures could ultimately backfire on Maduro, suggesting a potential vulnerability within his regime. Drawing parallels to the downfall of Syria’s Bashar Assad, Shifter highlighted the inherent unpredictability of authoritarian regimes, emphasizing the looming possibility of internal collapse even amidst apparent strength.
In Venezuela, the future remains uncertain, with political tensions running high and human rights abuses on the rise. As Maduro tightens his grip on power, the international community closely watches for signs of dissent within the ranks of the armed forces, recognizing the potential for a sudden shift in the country’s political landscape. Despite Maduro’s resilience, the specter of change looms large, fueled by the fervent aspirations of a populace yearning for freedom and justice.
