2024-07-27 18:40:00
Venezuela, a once prosperous country now scarred by years of economic collapse and political repression, will hold elections on July 28 in which President Nicolás MaduroDefined internationally as a dictator, he will seek a third term.
The Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela is named after national icon Simón Bolívar, nicknamed “The Liberator” for his role in helping the former Spanish colonies in South America achieve independence in the early 20th century. ”.
Bolivar inspired military man Hugo Chávez, a close ally of the late Cuban leader Fidel Castro, who led the country from 1999 until his death in 2013. Died of cancer. Harnessing the country’s oil wealth to help lift millions out of poverty.
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But his successor was defined as a “tyrant”. Nicolás Maduro has led an unprecedented economic collapse, driven in part by falling oil prices and U.S. sanctions over his crackdown on the opposition.
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this Maduro’s 2018 re-election rejected as illegitimate Most Western and Latin American countries. Maduro narrowly won his first election in a fight to win respect as Chavez’s legitimate successor.
Since then, he has lived through crisis after crisis, ruling authoritarianly and consolidating power while life for ordinary Venezuelans has become increasingly miserable.
million Venezuelans They fled a dire economic crisis marked by rampant inflation The oil boom collapsed as global crude prices fell, leading to severe shortages.
Hopes for a return to democracy in those elections were dashed after he barred his main rival from running as a candidate and accused him of corruption, charges widely considered false.
“They’ll never come back!”The president’s oft-repeated reference to the “far right” includes all his opponents, calling them lackeys of the “American empire” and blaming them for all evil.
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fight crime
Venezuela is often classified as One of the most dangerous countries in the worldAlthough this country of 30 million people is no longer as ruthless as it once was.
About four years ago, the government launched a crackdown on gangs operating in favelas and prisons, and violent deaths fell by about a quarter last year to 26.8 per 100,000 residents, according to Venezuela’s independent Prison Observatory.
But experts say extortion by criminal groups continues and is on the rise.
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oil crisis
At the end of the 19th century, crude oil was first discovered in Venezuela.
Starting in the 1920s, “oil became the main export product and the main source of the national budget, the driving force of the Venezuelan economy. Everything else depends directly or indirectly on oil activity,” said the academic and former rector. Angel Lombardi.
In 1976, the hydrocarbon industry was nationalized and the state-controlled Petroleos de Venezuela (PDVSA) was established. Most infrastructure projects are funded by oil revenues.
Most experts believe that With the arrival of Chavez, things changed.
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Poor management and controversial decisions have exacerbated corruption problems already plaguing some national oil companies. The most dramatic was the layoff of 20,000 workers, mostly highly qualified professionals, in 2003-2004 after a more than month-long industrial strike nearly paralyzed the country.
“Everything started to fall apart. Not just production, which is the easiest to measure and it’s obviousbut there are also very important things, such as the maintenance of the facilities,” explained Eugenio Montoro, a former PDVSA manager and a government opponent.
Although production continued to increase until 2008, when it peaked at 3.5 million barrels per day, it subsequently plummeted to 400,000 barrels per day, plunging the country into an unprecedented economic crisis.
inhibition
As president, Maduro faces many imagined and real threatsincluding a failed attack using explosives-laden drones in 2018 that injured several soldiers.
Activists say his government has ruthlessly suppressed protests against his harsh regime and economic misery, which worsened when his nominally socialist government was forced to cut social spending.
maduro Focus on strengthening control over the judiciary, legislation, military and state institutions.
The president also benefits from close political and economic ties with China, Russia and other authoritarian international actors that help the country eke out a living.
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To deflect blame from Venezuela’s problems, Maduro backs Chavez’s anti-U.S. conspiracy theoriesaccused the United States of plotting to kill him and blamed Western countries for undermining his once-thriving economy.
Maduro has been accused of shutting down nearly all channels for political dissent, jailing dissidents and rivals without regard for due process.
Her main rival, Maria Collina Machado, won the opposition primary in a landslide but was disqualified from holding public office due to accusations she and others said were false.
Venezuela Under investigation by the International Criminal Court for human rights violations.
Maduro is adept at using state media to spread his message and has tried to endear himself to a long-suffering population through popular television and online cartoons in his image.
international sanctions
The crisis has deepened since 2018 U.S. imposes sanctions on industrywhich ignored Nicolás Maduro’s re-election because it considered it fraudulent.
But supply tensions triggered first by the war in Ukraine and conflicts in the Middle East led Washington to reduce pressure on Venezuela, although discussions about the need for a democratic transition remain unchanged.
Late last year, the United States eased sanctions after the Venezuelan government and opposition reached an agreement to hold presidential elections in 2024.
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But he later reinstated the rules when the National Electoral Commission Withdraw the agreed invitation to EU observers. However, it granted exceptions in the form of licenses to companies such as Chevron, Repsol, Morel and Prohm.
Venezuela has sought new allies – Russia, Iran and China – to boost its oil output, which is now approaching 1 million barrels per day, but will need investment to move to higher stages.
The poor state of oil infrastructure wreaks havoc on the environmentpermanent leaks occurred in major watersheds.
Booking
Venezuela has about 300 billion barrels of hydrocarbon reserves, the world’s largest. It has two main basins: the historical states of Zulia and Falcon, which produce light oil, and the Orinoco oil belt, which produces heavy and extra-heavy crude oil.
PDVSA President and Petroleum Minister Pedro Tellechea assured The country “is in the midst of a renaissance in the oil industry”.
“Today we are growing and dreaming of restoring our international market,” he said. “Venezuela has one of the largest natural gas reserves, which we can improve and achieve the perfect balance of energy transition,” he added.
Venezuelans flee
about One in four Venezuelans —About seven million people— They fled the country to escape the economic crisis and politics.
Many moved to other countries in the Caribbean and Latin America, but others risked their lives on the long and dangerous journey across Central America and Mexico to reach the United States. Others moved to Europe or Asia.
They carry their everyday cornmeal tortilla, the tortilla, which is popular as a gluten-free option. Tortillas can be served with soup or with cheese, meat, beans, seafood or vegetables and are now sold in bakeries and stores. dining car From New York to Tokyo.
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