When President Nicolás Maduro announced plans to elect a constituent assembly to rewrite Venezuela’s constitution, he presented the July 30 vote as a means to restore public confidence in his government. But as the vote nears, and with protests being met by mounting violence, holding the sham election would only make matters worse.
GENEVA – After months of violence and anti-government protests, Venezuela is approaching the political precipice. President Nicolás Maduro’s push toward autocratic rule culminates on July 30, with the planned election of a constituent assembly to rewrite the country’s constitution. And while there is still time to change course, the path back toward democracy is quickly fading from view.
In May, when Maduro announced his plan to establish a constituent assembly, he presented it as a way to restore confidence in his government, which has struggled to recover from economic decline amid collapsing oil prices. But as the vote has drawn closer, it has become clear that Maduro’s intent has always been to consolidate his power, and impose on Venezuela’s 31 million people an authoritarian, pseudo-socialist system. By rigging the vote with handpicked candidates, the president appears willing to use any means to maintain power.
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In a world of giants, the EU and Mercosur together represent just 10% of the world’s population and 20% of global GDP. If either wants to wield global influence, it needs the other, making the EU-Mercosur trade agreement a strategic imperative.
urge European Union and Latin American leaders to revive momentum toward a long-overdue trade agreement.
Saadia Zahidi
argues that social-safety nets must be customized and targeted to ensure efficiency, advocates a more responsible approach to deficit reduction and fiscal consolidation, describes the complex recipe for helping countries reap the benefits of greater female labor-force participation, and more.
GENEVA – After months of violence and anti-government protests, Venezuela is approaching the political precipice. President Nicolás Maduro’s push toward autocratic rule culminates on July 30, with the planned election of a constituent assembly to rewrite the country’s constitution. And while there is still time to change course, the path back toward democracy is quickly fading from view.
In May, when Maduro announced his plan to establish a constituent assembly, he presented it as a way to restore confidence in his government, which has struggled to recover from economic decline amid collapsing oil prices. But as the vote has drawn closer, it has become clear that Maduro’s intent has always been to consolidate his power, and impose on Venezuela’s 31 million people an authoritarian, pseudo-socialist system. By rigging the vote with handpicked candidates, the president appears willing to use any means to maintain power.
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