Post-Chavez Venezuela: Where Is This Political Crisis Heading?

“it is very difficult to have a very clear path of how to lead the situation today……we are under major threats from a regime that knows that they lost elections, and they are trying to stop the Venezuelans to gain power, to actually recover freedom and liberties, which is the purpose of the opposition.”                                         - Diego Arria, former Venezuelan representative to the United Nations

Since the death of four-time president and founder of the Fifth Republic Movement, Lt. Col. Hugo Chavez at the age of 58, the country of Venezuela has slowly sailed into a time of political crisis and civil unrest.

 

Chavez died in early March (5^th, to be precise) after a long battle with cancer. As soon as word of his death hit the world, long time rival and unsuccessful challenger, Capriles Henrique Radonski quickly flew back to Caracas, Venezuela, to announce that he would run again for president in the newly arranged election for Chavez’s replacement.

On April 14, Venezuelans went to the polls which were to decide who will succeed Chavez between Capriles and Chavez’s former minister & serving Vice President, Nicolas Maduro. Although, the battle between Capriles and Maduro was a fierce one, Venezuelans elected Maduro president. 

It was an interesting election, because Maduro had already been named by Chavez as his successor before his passing, and Capriles, who had supported a failed US-backed coup against Chavez some years ago, claimed to be a “Bolivarian” (after Simon Bolivar) and a better executor of Chavez’s legacy than Maduro.

No doubt, the winner of the April 14^th election was Chavez himself. Supporters of Venezuelan democracy will tell you that any day. The fact that his chosen successor was accepted even after his death only means that the people always wanted Chavez, not that they were forced or bribed to put him in power over the years. If Capriles had won, he would have reverted to his usual ideologies and removed anything that represented Chavez.

Only a few days later, the opposition began burning down health clinics obviously erected by Chavez, and invoking series of violent acts. Surely, these acts are most likely aimed at discrediting the present government (if not overthrow it). But, nobody is taking responsibility for the violence.

Now, Capriles is refusing to accept the results of the election, meaning Maduro’s legitimacy is in question. He has demanded a full recount and called for street protests. In turn, Maduro, who was only focused on pressing matters of public administration, has been forced to face the seemingly growing problem.

Diosdado Cabello, president of parliament, has blamed Capriles for the violence and deaths which followed his rejection of the Sunday’s electoral results. Aurora Morales, president of the Miranda parliament has warned Capriles to either resume his role as Governor of Miranda (which he temporarily evacuated to contest in the elections), or forfeit it.

We all know that Maduro is no Hugo Chavez, and he faces a tough opposition which may include the US government (they were at loggerheads with Chavez when he was alive). Can he acquire Chavez’s charisma, rhetorical bombast and ability to gain unexpected alliances to defuse the growing tension in the country?.

Will there be an end to the political crisis brewing in the country?

Join me on facebook (Hanif Adams) and twitter (@lytlkenny) for access to the latest articles!