Military Intelligence Agencies Torture Dissidents’ Relatives
What’s Ariana’s crime? Having a family member thought to be plotting against the government. A new human rights low.
Politics
No, Juan Guaidó Did Not Declare Himself President Today
Confusion is rife over what exactly National Assembly Speaker Guaidó really said at today’s “Cabildo” assembly. No, he did not proclaim himself president. Yes, he said he’s ready to do so. Soon. And called for protests.
Not Even ‘Maduristas’ Showed Up To Celebrate Maduro’s Inauguration
On the day of his “inauguration” the streets around the TSJ weren’t even half full. Caracas traffic didn’t collapse because of hundreds of buses, like we saw during chavismo’s golden years. Some people were honest about being there for the free food, others weren’t sure about questions of legitimacy.
The Greatest Trick Maduro Ever Pulled Was Convincing the World the National Assembly Still Exists
Newsflash: The National Assembly was shut down. Years ago. It’s just that the government, in an inspired bit of next-generation authoritarianism, never told us.
January 10 Set to Renew the Cycle of Hype, Symbolism, Frustration and Despair
Year after year the opposition stages symbolic fights that show it hasn’t really digested the reality of the National Assembly’s complete powerlessness.
The Usual Suspects
As Nicolás approaches his self-proclamation, the international sphere and internal political actors make some pretty relevant moves,
Navigating Venezuela’s Data Desert
The government’s spent years covering official data on Venezuela’s martyred economy. But there are alternatives out there. Here’s a guided tour.
Can the National Assembly Emerge As A Protector of The Constitution?
January 10th creates a unique situation that calls for a political solution, not a Constitutional one. What is needed now is for the National Assembly, as a legitimate power, to step up.
January 10 Is Just Around the Corner. Then What?
On Thursday, Nicolás Maduro’s 2013-2019 term expires. By no stretch of the imagination will he be a lawful president after that date.
Elections: A Short-term Risk for Dictators That Can Have Long-term Rewards
One study shows that elections often create short-term stability problems for dictatorial regimes, but those that ride out the electoral wave end up even more entrenched than before.
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