Page 12 - ARUBA TODAY

A12 WORLD NEWS
Tuesday 22 May 2018

Venezuela's opposition scrambles to regroup after Maduro win

By JOSHUA GOODMAN month.
SCOTT SMITH "This election doesn't solve
Associated Press Maduro's economic prob-
CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) lems, and in some ways
— Venezuela's fractured makes them far worse," said
opposition emerged even Yon Goicochea, an oppo-
more powerless Monday, a sition activist who spent 15
day after an election it boy- months in jail until agreeing
cotted propelled socialist last year to run in mayoral
President Nicolas Maduro elections, also boycotted
to an easy victory amid a by the opposition.
crushing economic crisis. A growing roster of nations
The coalition's strategy to issued condemnations
sit out the vote succeeded Monday for Venezuela's
at exposing declining sup- election, threatening to
port for the government. ramp up diplomatic and
Yet it also leaves Maduro's economic pressure.
opponents even more de- A coalition of 14 countries
pendent on international from throughout the Ameri-
pressure seeking to force cas, including Brazil, Mexico
change in this South Ameri- and Colombia, pledged
can oil-exporting nation to scale back diplomatic
where people struggle to relations with Venezuela
find food and are migrat- and urge international or-
ing in mass. ganizations not to give the
Even before the govern- Maduro government new
ment-controlled National credit.
Election Council declared Spanish Prime Minister Mari-
Maduro the overwhelming ano Rajoy decried the vote
winner, nations around the as not respecting "minimal
world had accused him of democratic standards"
taking Venezuela down and vowed to consult with
the path toward "dicta- European counterparts on
torship." The election reg- new measures in hopes
istered the lowest turnout of "easing the suffering of
in decades — around 46 Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro places his fist against his heart as he arrives with his wife Venezuelans."
percent — as many voters Cilia Flores to address supporters from the presidential palace Caracas, Venezuela, Sunday, May The people of Caracas,
stayed home while the op- 20, 2018. meanwhile, awoke Mon-
position warned the elec- Associated Press day to return to their daily
tion was rigged. struggles, either at peace
It's an outcome likely to she said. his mounting problems on of anonymity because with the election's out-
further weaken Maduro's In one minor protest Mon- what he likes to call the "im- they weren't authorized to come or resigned to six
legitimacy in the eyes of day, 30 opposition activ- perialist" U.S. discuss the administration's more years under Maduro
many, though not neces- ists marched onto a major President Donald Trump did next steps. leadership.
sarily his grip on power. highway that a year ago move Monday to strength- The financial stranglehold Among those getting on
There has been no sign was filled with tens of thou- en the financial noose on Venezuela triggered by with life was Concepción
of wavering support from sands of anti-government around Maduro, signing a collapse in oil production Fernandez, a 47-year-old
the leadership of Venezu- protesters. They unfurled an executive order that and previous U.S. sanctions merchant who stopped
ela's military, which long a giant Venezuelan flag makes it harder for Ven- barring the government to reflect while waiting to
was the arbiter of Venezu- shouting, "This was a farce ezuela's government to sell from restructuring its debts catch a bus to work.
ela's political disputes. And — not an election." Then off state assets, including will likely only worsen the "I just might grab my suit-
Venezuelans busy trying to they rolled up the flag and money due from oil sales. misery. Venezuela's infla- case and go," she said.
survive amid widespread dispersed. It lasted 10 min- Administration officials said tion has soared to 14,000 "The Chavistas won't leave.
food shortages and hyper- utes. top Venezuelan officials percent, while the mini- There's nothing and no-
inflation seem too demoral- "It's so hard to mobilize peo- use such sales to enrich mum wage has nosedived body who can take them
ized to engage in protests ple who are desperately themselves, while millions to a value of about $2 a out."q
like the ones that last year trying to survive or figure struggle.
resulted in more than 140 out how to leave the coun- A senior U.S. administra-
deaths. try," McCoy said. tion official told The Asso-
Opponents of the socialist She thinks it unlikely the U.S. ciated Press that while oil
revolution installed by the will act on threats to slap an sanctions are under active
late President Hugo Chavez embargo on Venezuela's consideration, there is con-
have few options, said Jen- oil exports — its main source sensus that such a strong-
nifer McCoy, a Georgia of cash. Resistance to the armed tactic might not be
State University political sci- idea runs high among inter- needed given the impact
entist who led five electoral national oil companies as of past sanctions, the dam-
missions to Venezuela on well as refineries built in U.S. age already wrought by
behalf of the Carter Center Gulf states to process Ven- Maduro's own mismanage-
until 2013. ezuela's heavy crude, she ment and legal actions
"The opposition for some noted. An embargo would taken by many of Venezu-
time has been waiting for also give Maduro a con- ela's unpaid creditors. The
something to save them," venient excuse to blame official spoke on condition