Maduro, who has been Venezuela’s president since Chavez’s death in 2013, has weathered crippling sanctions, mass protests, a U.S.-backed shadow government, civil unrest and even an attempted coup. Global isolation, economic collapse and mass exodus: he has used these crises to strengthen his grip on power.
By some measures, Venezuela, which has the world’s largest oil reserves, was once the richest country in South America. But between 2012 and 2020, the country’s economy shrank more than any country not at war in modern history. High inflation, widespread violence, shortages of basic goods and services and a repressive government have forced more than seven million people to flee the country, in what the United Nations has described as one of the world’s largest migration crises.
To understand what’s at stake in Sunday’s vote, it’s helpful to look back at the events that have brought Venezuela to this point.
Chavez dies, Maduro takes power
December 2012: Chavez, a former army officer, led what he called a socialist revolution and ruled Venezuela for 14 years as president. The popular president, who is dying of cancer, named his successor in his final television appearance, and Mr Maduro, a bus driver-turned-labour leader, is serving as vice president.
On March 5, 2013, the government announced Chavez’s death. The constitution requires elections to be held within 30 days.
April 2013: Maduro claims he narrowly defeated opposition candidate Henrique Capriles in the election to replace Chavez, and Capriles has demanded a recount, alleging fraud.
Protests have spread across the country, with security forces killing 43 people in demonstrations.
Venezuelans flee as economy collapses
December 2015: The opposition won the elections in their first significant victory against President Maduro, giving them control of the National Assembly.
2016-2017: The slow economic decline that began under Chavez has accelerated into a humanitarian crisis. Government mismanagement and plummeting oil prices have led to shortages of food, medicine and other supplies. Inflation exceeds 700 percent. Venezuelans stand in long lines to buy food; some loot supermarkets. Children are starving, street crime is widespread and power outages are a part of daily life. Millions have fled, many to Colombia, others to Brazil, Ecuador and Chile, and some to the United States.
march 2017: Venezuela’s Supreme Court, dominated by Maduro supporters, stripped the opposition-controlled National Assembly of its powers and appointed a new one, which the opposition accuses Maduro of staging a coup.
April 2017: Weeks of anti-government protests brought thousands into the streets, the country descended into anarchy, pro-government motorbike gangs known as “colectivos” responded to protesters with lethal force, and security forces killed more than 100 people.
Maduro has called a special parliament to rewrite the constitution to consolidate his power, U.S. and Latin American leaders have warned his government is moving toward dictatorship, and the Trump administration has moved to restrict Venezuela’s access to the U.S. financial system.
The opposition movement continues to grow
May 2018: The government held presidential elections but barred traditional opposition parties from fielding candidates. The opposition called for a boycott of the vote. Maduro declared himself the winner and the election was It was internationally condemned as a fraud.
January 2019: Juan Guaido, the speaker of the opposition-controlled National Assembly, declared himself the country’s legitimate leader, citing a constitution that says the head of parliament would be next in line if a “usurper” takes office. The United States and more than 50 other governments have recognized Guaido as Venezuela’s interim president.
Maduro has severed diplomatic ties with Washington, and the Trump administration has effectively halted U.S. purchases of Venezuelan oil.
February 2019: Opposition leaders were trying to bring millions of dollars’ worth of food and medical aid into Venezuela, but President Maduro blocked the convoy in what he saw as a veiled attempt by the U.S. to invade the country, plunging Maduro’s security forces and U.S.-backed opposition forces into a dramatic and violent showdown at the border.
March 2019: A nationwide blackout has left Venezuela without electricity for more than a week, frequent breakdowns in the country’s aging power grid have exacerbated water shortages, forcing some residents to rely on sewer systems, and the 2020 coronavirus pandemic has put further strain on the health system and economy.
April 30, 2019: Mr Guaido declared the uprising outside Caracas’ La Carlota military base, flanked by his mentor, opposition leader Leopoldo Lopez, who had been released from house arrest by soldiers, and rebel officers and soldiers.
They called on the military and ordinary Venezuelans to join them in toppling the “dictatorship.” For hours, protesters filled the streets of Caracas and other cities, but most of the military remained loyal to Maduro and the plan failed.
Mr Guaido later acknowledged that the opposition had miscalculated its support within the military. He continues to call for demonstrations, but turnout has begun to dwindle after the aid convoy fiasco and the riots.
January 2020: In an interview Washington Maduro then said it was time to negotiate directly with the U.S. The opposition lost momentum and Maduro tightened his grip on the country through the COVID-19 vaccination program and restrictive measures.
May 2020: Former Green Beret Jordan Goudreau and former Venezuelan Army Major General Cliver Alcala launched Operation Gideon, a plot to infiltrate Venezuela and capture Maduro, which also included two more former Green Berets and dozens of exiled Venezuelan soldiers who had assembled and trained in Colombia.
But Maduro’s intelligence services had detected the plan, and when the group landed in Macout, security forces were waiting for them, killing six of the group and arresting more than 90, including former Green Berets Airan Berry and Luke Denman.
Maduro Gains Power, U.S. Reaches Out a Hand
March 2022: Biden administration officials traveled to Caracas to meet with the Maduro government, a major shift from the Trump administration’s maximum pressure approach. The Biden administration’s efforts are aimed at driving a wedge between Caracas and its allies in Moscow, Beijing and Tehran, as well as ensuring access to energy amid the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war. In May 2022, the administration will begin easing some sanctions on Venezuela’s oil.
December 2022: The opposition has dismantled Guaido’s shadow government. Record numbers of Venezuelans are arriving at the U.S. southern border, many of them crossing the Darien Gap, a roadless, crime-ridden 60-mile stretch of jungle between Colombia and Panama. Connecting South America And North America.
October 2023: The Biden administration eased oil, gas and gold sanctions on Venezuela in exchange for Maduro’s promise to hold competitive, internationally monitored presidential elections in 2024. Representatives of President Maduro and opposition leaders signed the electoral agreement in Barbados. Days later, opposition leader Maria Corina Machado won a landslide primary election victory, taking 92% of the vote to challenge President Maduro.
2024: Venezuela’s Supreme Court disqualified Machado from running in the election. The Maduro government has cracked down on opposition forces, arresting activists and political leaders and barring European observers from observing the election. The Biden administration has reimposed sanctions, accusing Maduro of breaking promises.
Maduro’s government has allowed Machado’s deputy, former diplomat Edmundo Gonzalez, to register as an opposition candidate in Sunday’s election.
