At this point is very clear that Nicolas Maduro will not be able to get the “legitimacy” he hoped from a hasty presidential “election”. Much less one that violates all of Venezuela’s time-lapse laws and is organized under an electoral mediator without credibility and lacking in international recognition.
So why is he going through with this farce?
It seems clear that the UN won’t endorse it; neither will the United States nor the most important countries of America or the European Union. To the contrary, sanctions will likely get strengthened. And it’s painfully obvious that Henry Falcon, after his trip to the U.S. with the Rodriguez’ brothers, is not remotely believed to be the “opposition candidate”. The “legitimizing effect” that Falcon could offer Maduro is simply no taking place.
The prospects for Venezuela are now terrifying. The country’s public services are in a phase of collapse. Power failures are beginning to make daily life unbearable and the food shortage is making people turn to fighting like animals and searching for food in the garbage. Hyperinflation is out of control and thousands cross the border to the neighboring Colombia and Brazil. People are dying of something as basic as the lack of common-use antibiotics.
To make matters worse for Nicolas Maduro, the repudiation towards him, and everything that he, Diosdado Cabello, and all the other Chavista’s leaders represent, is deep and unfathomable even for most polls. They could broadcast 24 hours a day, talk themselves up, and falsify all the “elections” (non-competitive) they want, but the sham ends where the streets begin. Where the comments favoring the regime are taken with contempt, anger, even with hatred. Chavistas are aware of this but they keep on keeping on, and not only using propaganda: They are prepared to repress more harshly now than they did in 2017.
Maduro promises to “restart the economy” if he “wins” the “ballot.” He’s been making the same tired promises since 2013.
Let’s suppose for a moment that the path the chubby boss follows is the opposite that everyone expects: Let’s imagine (to dream is free) that on May 21st, Maduro announces a free-trade economic program, ends price controls, frees the exchange rate, and privatizes national industries.
Is this viable? Of course not. Maduro lacks all the resources (beginning with the intellect) to make this kind of decision and the necessary authority among the mob that holds him in power to take on such change in direction. He will regain neither from this so-called presidential “election”.
For at least three years, Venezuela has not had a president, but instead a man clinging to power.
