Shortages, insecurity, corruption, and human rights abuses have become the harsh reality for the Venezuelan people after 16 years of chavismo.
Although the regime—along with its Cuban puppeteers—has tried to obscure the gravity of the situation, the compounding crises have pushed the country to the brink of a social explosion.
The latest poll results published by the Venezuelan Institute of Data Analysis (IVAD) are devastating for the regime of Nicolás Maduro. For example, 87% of the population believes the country is moving in the wrong direction. Even worse, 70% rates the Maduro administration as bad or very bad, and only 7% as good. The polls also found that the three most important issues for the population are insecurity (68.9 %), high cost of living (41 %), and unemployment (11.7 %). However, when asked about the issue that most affects people on a personal level the vast majority (48.4%) cites shortages of basic necessities.
Local residents queue to try to buy staple items outside a supermarket at San Antonio in Tachira state, Venezuela, August 24, 2015. REUTERS/Carlos Eduardo Ramirez.
For most Venezuelans (62.1%), the national government or Maduro is responsible for these problems, and nearly two-thirds of the respondents do not believe the government is capable of improving the situation. Specifically, 68.7% believe that the government is corrupt, and a vast majority has an unfavorable opinion of state institutions. Popular distrust in the armed forces, the National Electoral Council, the National Assembly, the Attorney General, and the Ombudsman ranges from 57% to 62%. It is logical to conclude from these results that an overwhelming majority of Venezuelans believe that a change of course and of the country’s current leadership is the only way out of this crisis.
The government has scheduled parliamentary elections for December 6. However, faced with rising popular discontent and economic crises, it is possible that Maduro may scuttle these elections rather than risk defeat. The regime already has barred or imprisoned numerous popular candidates and rejected impartial international observers. The government also controls the electoral council, so, even if the elections are held, outright electoral fraud is always an option.
The situation in Venezuela is very dangerous, but regional governments appear oblivious or indifferent to the looming implosion. Pretending that Venezuela’s current leadership can resolve the crisis or that an economic collapse there will not affect the region is naïve and irresponsible.
In April, 25 ex-presidents took the unusual step of issuing a communiqué alerting the world to the crisis in Venezuela and calling for “negotiated solutions,” freedom for political prisoners, and guarantees for free and fair elections. This group could lend credibility and political weight, perhaps in collaboration with the Organization of American States (OAS), to monitor elections or seek political solutions. Unfortunately, Maduro has rejected the involvement of both of these potential mediators.
Rather than engaging two-dozen democratic statesmen or the OAS to try to save Venezuela, the Obama administration has spent the last year courting the men who have destroyed it—Maduro and Cuban dictator Raúl Castro. It’s not too late for Washington to play a constructive role in Venezuela, if it chooses to do so.
from AEI » Latest Content http://ift.tt/1JmEo7g
0 التعليقات:
Post a Comment