Polarisation demonisation and a lack of solutions, as problems continue to mount
People line up to buy toilet paper and baby diapers as national guards control the access at a supermarket in downtown Caracas.
Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro arrived back in Caracas yesterday after a whistlestop tour of seven nations in 12 days, during which he sought support for the economic difficulties facing his nation.
Maduro says he won financial and trade backing from China, Russia and Portugal, and tried to press OPEC to work together to boost struggling oil prices, which have an oversized effect on the country’s economy (market analysts believe 95 percent of Venezuela’s exports come from crude sales).
During Maduro’s absence, defeated presidential candidate Henrique Capriles had a change of tune. He declared it was now the “moment for the mobilization of Venezuelans,” seemingly a call for citizens to hit the streets like they did last year, when a series of bloody protests left more than 40 dead.
Capriles’ move is interesting because he separated himself from the more radical figures in the opposition last year, when they pushed for “La Salida” (The Exit) of President Maduro during last year’s turmoil. With high inflation, widespread shortages and long queues forming outside the country’s supermarkets (shepherded by Army soldiers deployed by the government), he must believe now is the time to make his move.
Some analysts have pointed to the fourth quarter of this year as Venezuela’s tipping point, when the country will face its largest debt repayments.
However, with little unity among the opposition, it remains to be seen how they would even govern effectively should Maduro be removed from power.
Some analysts have pointed to the fourth quarter of this year as Venezuela’s tipping point, when the country will face its largest debt repayments. That still leaves time for solutions, but they won’t be found if Venezuela’s politicians continue to point fingers at each other and demonize their opponents.
@urlgoeshere
An edited version of this column was published in the Buenos Aires Herald, on Sunday, January 18, 2015 as part of the ‘Perceptions’ series.
Link: http://www.buenosairesherald.com/article/179802/venezuela-goes-in-circles.