When President Maduro returns to Venezuela after
his globe-trotting begathon, he may find himself confronted with more than empty store shelves;
In the two weeks Maduro has bounced around the globe seeking help, the
government has deployed soldiers to prevent stampedes and looting at
markets while business leaders have warned that food stocks will run out
by early March. Political opponents are rallying supporters and foreign
investors are bracing for a potential default.
Maduro has taken his tinhorn cup to Russia, China, Iran and other outposts of democracy hoping for handouts that will keep him in the good graces of the Cubans who keep him in power. But with Fidel on his death bed, can he count on them in a crisis?
This week, both hardliners and moderates gelled behind a common call
to take to the streets to denounce the government's failings. The main
anti-government coalition, however, has yet to organize a march and
protests by students — a key sector in last year's demonstrations — have
been small and sporadic.
The opposition hopes to gain momentum
ahead of legislative elections later this year and take control of
congress, which they hope to use as leverage to force a recall of
Maduro.
Some analysts have raised the possibility of an even more
dramatic scenario — a military coup. So far there's been no outward sign
of disloyalty or nervousness on the part of the armed forces, which
have seen their power expand dramatically under Maduro. But observers
point out similarities to 1992.
Which was when Hugo Chavez deposed the government of Carlos Andres Perez. But he had the assistance of Fidel and Raul Castro. Today, the Cuban presence in Venezuela is even stronger, so the opposition will have to overcome Maduro's foreign support, to remove him.
Read more here: http://www.theolympian.com/2015/01/16/3529579/venezuela-crisis-deepens-as-maduro.html?sp=/99/102/#storylink=cpy
Read more here: http://www.theolympian.com/2015/01/16/3529579/venezuela-crisis-deepens-as-maduro.html?sp=/99/102/#storylink=cpy
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