He has rendered the elected National Assembly essentially redundant by setting up his own version stuffed with his cronies and relatives. Opposition leaders have been arrested.
The military has been bought off with promotions. From being a once prosperous country, Venezuela is now an economic basket case run by a despot.
Venezuelan friends of mine no longer feel safe enough to return to visit ageing parents — parents who struggle to get a passport , as Maduro wants to make it as hard as possible for them to leave.
Chavez was once a darling of the left. His legacy is a warning of what happens when, inevitably, the socialist dream turns out to be a nightmare of epic proportions.
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies. Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today. Already subscribed? If they are indeed held as planned, it will be a major opportunity for the opposition to make inroads among the 23 governorships up for grabs, which are almost entirely dominated by Maduro-aligned politicians.
The big question is how far will Maduro go in trying to ensure that he maintains power in these contests. Our mission has never been more vital than it is in this moment: to empower through understanding.
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By choosing I Accept , you consent to our use of cookies and other tracking technologies. How Venezuela went from a rich democracy to a dictatorship on the brink of collapse. Share this story Share this on Facebook Share this on Twitter Share All sharing options Share All sharing options for: How Venezuela went from a rich democracy to a dictatorship on the brink of collapse.
Reddit Pocket Flipboard Email. Next Up In World. Delivered Fridays. Thanks for signing up! Check your inbox for a welcome email. Email required. By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Notice and European users agree to the data transfer policy. For more newsletters, check out our newsletters page. The Latest. How a simple solution slashed child mortality in rural Kenyan villages By Dylan Matthews.
Why Biden has disappointed on immigration By German Lopez. Take price controls, for example, which were aimed at making basic goods more affordable to the poor by capping the price of flour, cooking oil and toiletries.
The controls meant that many Venezuelan businesses stopped production because they no longer made a profit, eventually resulting in shortages. Years of lack of investment in infrastructure further exacerbated by the more recent US sanctions on Venezuela's oil sector have crippled this key industry, which provides almost all of Venezuela's government revenue. Venezuela has been in the grip of an economic crisis for years now with hyperinflation one of the main problems.
Business news website Bloomberg has been tracking the price of a cup of coffee in the Venezuelan capital , Caracas, to show how prices have increased. According to figures compiled by the United Nations, more than 5.
The government has disputed the figures, saying they are inflated by "enemy countries". The majority of those leaving have crossed into neighbouring Colombia, from where some move on to Ecuador, Peru and Chile. Others have gone south to Brazil. The mass migration is one of the largest forced displacements in the western hemisphere.
Venezuela jails US oil executives for corruption. Venezuela opposition figure secretly flees country. Venezuela gold: Maduro wins in UK appeals court. Protests over fuel shortages spread in Venezuela. Venezuela accused of 'egregious' crimes by UN. Venezuelan leader 'pardons' political detainees.
Image source, Getty Images. Many Venezuelans want to see President Maduro gone from power but he remains in the presidential palace.
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