Much has been said since the beginning of 2014 about the political situation in Venezuela, since violent protests erupted as part of another destabilization effort meant to force out the Nicolás Maduro government. The Venezuelan opposition once again failed in its most recent attempt to violently overthrow the Maduro government. Foto: AP. This latest plan, which its leaders had labeled "the exit" has suffered a paradoxical fate since the resignation of Ramón Guillermo Aveledo as general secretary of the country’s principal opposition coalition Mesa de Unidad Democrática, MUD, (Democratic Unity Board). What is the political situation in Venezuela? What did the ruling United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV) decide in its recent congress? What will the opposition try now? "They were talking about ‘the exit’ and they ended up being the ones who exited," said Nicolás Maduro ironically, during his TV and radio program En Contacto con Maduro, referring to the Venezuelan opposition leader’s stepping aside. Aveledo had served as MUD general secretary during their candidate Henrique Capriles’ two bids for the Presidency, and was forced out by more conservative forces opposed to participation in reconciliation talks initiated by the government after the violent protests of February and March this year, which Aveledo attended. María Corina Machado, one of the opposition’s most visible faces during the "exit" operation, along with Leopoldo López, is now promoting a so-called Citizens’ Congress, looking to - again - rebuild the counterrevolutionary current, beyond MUD. Machado represents the most radical right wing of the opposition, which makes no "concessions" whatsoever to the Maduro government. Her discourse focuses primarily on the issue of security, leaving aside other questions related to the country’s economy, and popular participation in decision-making. The recent Third Congress of the PSUV The recent Third Congress of the PSUV reflected the consolidation of support for the leadership of Nicolás Maduro, who was elected president of the party. Little interest was noted in the open letters released by former Minister Giordini when he reisgned, widely circulated by the conservative press looking to promote division within the PSUV. Delegates to the Congress discussed and approved continuing efforts to organize some 14,000 Bolivar-Chávez Units, grassroots level bodies launched this past year to consider party policies. Documents from the meeting emphasized a "multi-centric, pluripolar world, Latin American and Caribbean unity to guarantee peace and equilibrium on the planet." The recent Unasur-BRICS summit in Brazil was highlighted as an example of ties the PSUV seeks to consolidate with other countries moving away from neoliberal policies. Also noteworthy is growing division within the opposition, although this is hardly a new phenomenon. In February, when violent street protests erupted in an attempt to overthrow the Maduro government, two divergent tendencies were evident. The situation has not changed, but differences have been accentuated. Capriles announced a solo tour around the country. Machado opted for the Citizens’ Congress without MUD, and Aveledo has yet to explain his departure from the organization – a war of egos, and confusion about the country’s future. No doubt, as these lines are written, one of the principal challenges facing the Maduro government is ending increasing economic speculation which business interests are driving. Putting the brakes on this development - which causes shortages and escalating prices - is critical to the future of Venezuela. Once again fractured, the opposition will resort to using economic means to accomplish what it has not been able to accomplish politically. These forces are looking to erode popular support for a government which has put the people first in policies implemented since Chávez first arrived to Miraflores. (ALAI)
