VENEZUELA: Successive strikes against opposition sign of economic unease
The regime is advancing its campaign to sideline genuine political adversaries and build a made-to-measure, cosmetic opposition in time for sham legislative elections before the end of 2020. The regime’s goal is to secure domestic political hegemony. The opposition led by Juan Gu… Become a member to read the rest of this article Username […]
VENEZUELA: US ups pressure but Covid-19 is the more pressing threat to Maduro
There have been two important political developments in the last 48 hours. First, on 24 March, the former opposition presidential candidate Henrique Capriles Radonski called for an agreement between President Nicolas Maduro’s regime and the opposition led by Juan Guaido to help a… Become a member to read the rest of this article
VENEZUELA: Regime’s “whatever it takes” policy to COVID-19
● The regime’s bombshell request for IMF emergency assistance provides proof of Venezuela’s unique vulnerability to COVID-19. ● The run-down public healthcare system is not equipped to handle a significant spread of coronavirus. ● Extreme oil-dependence means that previous … Become a member to read the rest of this article
VENEZUELA: New sanctions not game-changing but more squeeze to come
Yesterday, 18 February, the US government announced sanctions against Rosneft Trading, a brokerage unit of Russian firm Rosneft. The entity is thought to handle at least 50% of Venezuela’s crude exports under deliberately opaque arrangements designed to bypass wider sanctions; ty… Become a member to read the rest of this article
VENEZUELA: The role of militias in Maduro’s control strategy
The first military exercises of 2020 will take place over the weekend of 15-16 February. Military maneuvers are organized regularly: as previously explained, they are designed to send a dissuasive message (domestic as much as external) and to keep military units active. These exe… Become a member to read the rest of this article
LATAM PULSE
This week the domestic agenda will preoccupy President Ivan Duque in Colombia even after his successful bolstering of bilateral ties with the US. In Argentina, a sub-sovereign bond issue rears its head, while the government hopes to head off oil and gas sector problems. Chile’s g… Become a member to read the rest of this article
VENEZUELA: Maduro starts 2020 as he means to go on
National Assembly (AN) president Juan Guaido, who is recognized as interim president by over 50 countries, was blocked from entering the legislature yesterday, 5 January, for a vote to renew his position as AN head. Luis Parra, distanced from the opposition over corruption allega… Become a member to read the rest of this article