Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro is set to begin his third six-year term as the country’s leader after he’s sworn in Friday. This comes despite credible evidence indicating his opponent, Edmundo González, won the election, and as hundreds of people gathered to protest his regime. The opposition leader, Maria Corina Machado, came out of hiding to join the demonstrations but her team says she was “violently intercepted.” The Venezuelan government has denied the allegations.
Daniel Raisbeck, a policy analyst on Latin America at the Cato Institute’s Center for Global Liberty and Prosperity, wrote about the election and what routes Venezuelans have to reclaim their freedom from Maduro and his oppressive regime.
Ian Vásquez, Vice President for International Studies and Director of the Center for Global Liberty and Prosperity, has commented on Machado’s ability to unite Venezuelans, something Maduro has failed to do in his more than a decade in power. He notes that she represents a clear set of values and embodies dignity and courage in the face of adversity and threats.
Both Ian and Daniel are available if you would like to speak with either of the on this topic. Please reach out to pr@cato.org.
