12 años de transición hacia un modelo autoritario en Venezuela
Nicolás Maduro, then vice president of the Venezuelan government, took to the airwaves on March 5, 2013, in a message broadcast on radio and television. Standing at a pulpit, flanked by collaborators and military leaders, he delivered the news: «Commander and President Hugo Chávez Frías has passed away.»
Chávez, a lieutenant colonel who led a failed coup in 1992 but later won the presidency through elections, governed Venezuela for 13 years. He passed away on March 4, 2013, at the age of 58 at the Military Hospital in Caracas, according to Maduro’s statement. This marked the beginning of a new era in Venezuelan politics.
Chávez had appointed Maduro as vice president before his death, designating him as the heir to the political project he had founded. Chávez succumbed to cancer, the details of which were shrouded in secrecy, with much of his treatment taking place in Cuba.
Following Chávez’s demise, Maduro assumed the presidency of Venezuela and became the candidate of Chavismo in the subsequent elections, which he won by a slim margin of just over 200,000 votes. This electoral outcome sparked significant doubts and marked the first of many crises faced by Maduro’s government during his 12-year tenure.
The post-Chávez era saw a serious institutional deterioration within Chavismo, including the erosion of the powers of the National Assembly, which had been won by the opposition in 2015. This period also witnessed mass protests against Maduro’s government in 2013, 2014, and 2019, which were met with heavy-handed repression by state security forces, resulting in numerous casualties.
The International Criminal Court prosecutor has been evaluating the actions of Venezuelan political and security forces, suspecting crimes against humanity, particularly targeting opposition figures. A UN investigative mission confirmed the occurrence of such crimes during Maduro’s leadership.
These power struggles led to a dismantling of Venezuela’s fragile democratic institutions. Subsequently, Chavismo, under Maduro’s leadership, veered towards an autocratic model where transparent decision-making processes were no longer upheld, signaling a departure from democratic norms.
Political analyst Víctor Maldonado views the Chavista project as embodying a quarter-century of authoritarian populism and the erosion of democratic principles. He highlights the devastating impact of this regime on Venezuela’s social and economic indicators, characterized by excessive regulations and widespread poverty.
Under Maduro’s rule, Venezuela experienced one of the longest periods of hyperinflation in history, coupled with a sustained decline in GDP. This economic turmoil fueled a mass exodus of over 7.8 million migrants, exacerbating the country’s social fabric and economic woes.
Despite mounting domestic and international pressure, Maduro secured a third term in office through controversial elections marred by allegations of electoral fraud and the persecution of dissenting voices. Opposition figures like Edmundo González, in exile, are mobilizing support for a transition, while prominent opposition leader María Corina Machado remains in hiding.
The collapse of the Chavista model, initiated by Chávez’s passing, has exposed internal fractures within the movement. Key figures like Diosdado Cabello and the Rodriguez siblings have emerged as power brokers, steering Chavismo away from its original ideals towards a more force-driven approach.
As Venezuela grapples with deepening political and economic crises, the future of Chavismo remains uncertain. The regime’s authoritarian grip, marked by human rights abuses and political repression, has plunged the country into a state of misery and despair, signaling a stark departure from its democratic aspirations.
In conclusion, the legacy of Chavismo, once celebrated as a beacon of leftist populism, has now become synonymous with authoritarian rule and economic devastation in Venezuela. The road ahead is fraught with challenges as the country navigates through a turbulent political landscape under Maduro’s leadership.
FUENTE
