In the year 2013, Nicolas Maduro assumed the Venezuelan Presidential position when the past president, Hugo Chávez, passed away. Under the reign of Maduro, Venezuela fell into chaos, with poverty rampant and the economy falling into a deep recession. The country’s economic and humanitarian crises have caused many Venezuelans financial ruin, and with starvation, crime, and inflation on the rise, the country seems to be crying out for help.
President Nicolás Maduro is part of the United Socialist Party of Venezuela, and the current opposition is from the Socialist-Democratic Popular Will Candidate Juan Guaidó. Since the tense 2019 election, the Venezuelan Presidency is disputed between the two.
The extreme manner of Venezuela’s situation has forced the world to take sides. On Maduro’s side are China, Russia, Syria, Cuba, and Turkey. Guaidó has the majority support, with Europe, North America, South America, Japan, and Australia on his side. While Guaidó is supported by more countries, the Presidency is still widely disputed in Venezuela and across the world.
A recent military coup led by Americans including an ex-xGreen Beret shed light on the utter chaos in Venezuela. The goal was to capture Maduro to make way for Guaidó. The coup ultimately failed, and the two Guaidó advisers that supported and funded it have resigned. The Americans were quickly intercepted by Maduro’s security and captured. It is said by Maduro that they will be given a fair trial, but little else about their fate was revealed in the press release.
President Trump denied any U.S. involvement in the failed coup, but Maduro has accused the U.S. of conspiring economically with other countries against Venezuela. Maduro has also made claims that the U.S. is trying to dethrone him to gain access to Venezuela’s plentiful oil reserves.
Maduro’s reign has forced over four million Venezuelans to flee the country. This may be attributed to the 9,000 people executed for critiquing Maduro’s totalitarian leadership or the fact that Venezuela has the lowest average salary in South America.
Many Venezuelan children have dropped out of school since Maduro’s takeover, even though school through grade nine is required by the government. Schools have been the victims of government budget cuts, and many of them are not fit to operate.
As Venezuelans battle a pandemic, economic crisis, and unlivable salaries, there is a justifiable lack of hope gripping them. Guaidó and Maduro battle for control of a grief-stricken country, while the overlooked and impoverished people of Venezuela are fleeing, starving, and being executed for speaking their minds.