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After being chosen as his successor by Mr. Chávez, before his death in 2013, Mr. Maduro, on the left, narrowly won an election on the fly. Two years later, the opposition obtained a so-called super majority in Congress. Instead of paying attention As social discontent grew and collaborated with the new National Assembly to adopt corrective economic policies, Mr. Maduro decided to dissolve the legislature, eventually creating the National Constituent Assembly in 2017, a legislature overflowing with followers of Maduro. When tensions escalated, both groups sought a negotiated transition. At every step, efforts to find a peaceful solution have failed – discussions conducted by the Vatican in 2016 at meetings held in the Dominican Republic in late 2017 and early 2018.
The Venezuelans are disillusioned and angry with the Maduro government for almost as long as he is in power – and the situation has become desperate. Maduro's support was eroding, with Venezuelans becoming less able to feed their families. Shortages of food and medicine are widespread. Hundreds of people have died of malnutrition and easily treatable diseases with appropriate treatment. Power outages last for days, water is scarce and decaying infrastructure is reminiscent of a war zone.
At a protest on Tuesday, people chanted anti-Maduro slogans and carried placards demanding changes. The hundreds of Venezuelan bolivars – the currency of the country – scattered on the sidewalk, however, are the most eloquent sign of the tragedy that strikes the country. Some people laughed at the sight, others trampled them, but no one took the trouble to take them. The International Monetary Fund estimates that hyperinflation will reach more than $ 10 million this year.
This painful reality concerns all Venezuelans, but especially the poor, the traditional support of Mr. Maduro. As a result, they have largely abandoned or expressed their willingness to bring it out. Many simply chose to leave the country. According to the United Nations, three million people have already left the country and five million more could do so this year.
On January 10, Mr. Maduro was sworn in for a second term. Throughout the ceremony, he introduced himself as the constitutional president, but the elections he claims to have won in May have been widely regarded as a sham, both at home and abroad. The vote was overseen by a loyal election body to Mr. Maduro, and several key opposition leaders were excluded because they are imprisoned or prevented from running. He gradually lost all legitimacy. This too is different from the past. Mr. Chávez was a ugly director, but he had charisma and won elections more or less democratically.
It's impossible to know how long Mr. Guaidó will hold the position of acting president, but even if the Maduro government manages to get into power, it's hard to imagine that Mr. Maduro will succeed in re-establishing the economy, legitimacy and chavist revolution: popular support.
Virginia Lopez-Glbad has largely covered Venezuela and Latin America for international media. She was a senior correspondent for Al Jazeera English.
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