Will the Death Toll in Venezuela Continue to Rise as the Fight for the Claim to Legitimacy Continues?

By Madison Kenyon

On May 20, 2018, President Nicolás Maduro, the socialist party candidate, won a second term as president of Venezuela.  This second term began in January, and if it lasts, is supposed to be a six-year term.  However, President Maduro’s re-election is plagued by many accusations of fraudulent votes, resulting in many questioning his legitimacy as President of Venezuela.

Formal opposition began in late January, when about 300,000 Venezuelan citizens met in the streets of Caracas, the Venezuelan capital, to denounce Mr. Maduro’s claim to the presidency.  Along with this, Juan Guaidó has stepped forward claiming the rights to the presidency.  Mr. Guaidó asserts that since the re-election of Mr. Maduro is based on fraud, this technically left the presidency open, and therefore, Mr. Guaidó, as head of the National Assembly, should be sworn in as interim leader.

Soon after Mr. Guaidó’s claim to the presidency, many countries also began to declare Mr. Maduro as illegitimate, and rather, began to support Mr. Guaidó’s call to the position.  Specifically, in late January, the United States became the first to announce its denial of Mr. Maduro as president and swing its support in favor of Mr. Guaidó.  This came just weeks before the United States’ president, Donald Trump, denounced socialism at the U.S. State of the Union Address. Following the U.S., Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Spain, and a handful of other European and Latin American countries came forward in their condemnation of Mr. Maduro as Venezuela’s legitimate president.

            So, why does this matter?  Over the past few years, over three million have fled Venezuela due to dangerous shortages of food, water, electricity, and medicine.  However, most of these people cannot afford the use of a transportation system, and rather they have no choice but to make the trek on feet.  Due to the recent government crackdowns that have arisen because of the growing opposition party, many more are starting to flee.  Again, these people cannot afford transportation, let alone food or water for the trip.

Tension between Mr. Maduro and the opposition party, led by Mr. Guaidó, and now seemingly the United States, continues to build, and resulted in Mr. Maduro ordering the Venezuelan army to prevent any aid from coming into the country.  This has turned into a blockade along the Venezuelan border, specifically the one that meets Columbia.  However, Mr. Guaidó called for the army to stop taking orders from Mr. Maduro since he is no longer the legitimate leader.  The United States’ President, Mr. Trump, also made his own public statement on February 18, 2019, stating that Venezuela’s army stands to “lose everything” if it does not step down and let the aid through.  Along with this, the U.S. and Mr. Guaidó told Mr. Maduro he had until Saturday, February 23^rd, to end the blockade and allow the humanitarian aid packages that have been piling up at the border for weeks now through. President Trump continued by asserting, “We seek a peaceful transition of power, but all options are open.”

Yet, the United States’ subtle threat did not persuade Mr. Maduro, and instead, on Wednesday, February 20^th, he declared that Venezuela would further close its borders to air and sea traffic from three Caribbean islands to continue blocking shipments of aid organized by the opposition.

As this political turmoil continues, at least 40 people have been killed in the last few weeks alone.  The United Nations has also confirmed 4 new deaths and at least 300 new injures just this past weekend.  Both Mr. Maduro and Mr. Guaidó, along with the opposition force, need to come to an understanding and fast, or else the death toll of the Venezuelan people will continue to increase, and it will be on both of their hands.

Sources:

Trump Delivers Blunt Warning to Venezuela Military Over Aid Impasse, Feb. 18, 2019, available at https://www.nytimes.com/2019/02/18/world/americas/venezuela-guaido-maduro-trump.html?module=inline

Venezuela Election Won by Maduro Amid Widespread Disillusionment, May 20, 2018, available athttps://www.nytimes.com/2018/05/20/world/americas/venezuela-election.html?module=inline

The Latest: UN Rights Chief Condemns Venezuela Violence, Feb. 24, 2019, available athttps://www.washingtonpost.com/world/the_americas/the-latest-venezuelans-demand-aid-at-brazil-border/2019/02/23/053b7fda-37ca-11e9-8375-e3dcf6b68558_story.html?utm_term=.f6951061d512

A Staggering Exodus: Millions of Venezuelans are Leaving the Country, on Foot, Feb. 20, 2019, available athttps://www.nytimes.com/2019/02/20/world/americas/venezuela-refugees-colombia.html?emc=edit_NN_p_20190221&nl=morning-briefing&nlid=87653344tion%3DtopNews&section=topNews&te=1

Venezuela Closes Border to 3 Caribbean Islands Ahead of Aid Showdown, Feb. 20, 2019, available athttps://www.nytimes.com/2019/02/20/world/americas/venezuela-borders-aid.html?emc=edit_NN_p_20190221&nl=morning-briefing&nlid=87653344tion%3DtopNews&section=topNews&te=1

Who is Venezuela’s Legitimate President? A Messy Dispute, Explained, Feb. 4, 2019, available athttps://www.nytimes.com/2019/02/04/world/americas/venezuela-maduro-guaido-legitimate.html?module=inline