This article was first published on the 25th of September, 2019 by Patrick Carpen.
Photo by Kevin Keith on Unsplash
As the world closes in on Nicolas Maduro, how much longer will he cling to power?
It is no doubt that the blood of thousands of Venezuelans are on the hands of several world leaders who are battling for Venezuela’s oil. But Maduro is the principle culprit here. Personally speaking, even if you are not wrong at all. Even if you are being bullied…a true leader will step down if he sees that remaining in power will cause his people to suffer. That is just my personal opinion.
But this is not the case with Nicolas Maduro. The man is hellbent on staying in power at the expense of every Venezuelan life. Venezuela does not have medical resources to cater for its civilians, much less the wounded of war. Yet, Maduro says, “we are ready to face any enemy.”
In what has proved a difficult task, the United States has already managed to rally over 20 nations to join them in the burdensome task of removing Maduro from power. And the Colombian President, Ivan Duque, is especially vehement that Maduro, whom he compares to one of the world’s most heartless criminals, must go.
On Tuesday, over 95% of the member states of the Rio Treaty signed the agreement to unite against the Maduro regime. And this includes the possible use of military force.
Since the Venezuelan economic collapse began over ten years ago, Maduro has stood the test of time. With Russia by his side, Maduro has withstood several coup attempts, several Washington-sponsored military invasion attempts and endless economic sanctions.
But while Maduro and his immediate family continue to live a life of luxury, the common people continue to suffer, starve and die.
In 2008, due to hyperinflation, the Maduro Regime had replaced the Venezuelan currency, the bolivar, with the bolivar fuerte. One bolivar fuerte was worth 1000 bolivars. But even the new currency kept inflating. In fact, it inflated so much, that it was replaced with the bolivar superano. When it replaced the bolivar fuerte in the year 2018, one bolivar superano was valued at 100,000 bolivar fuertes.
As Maduro heads to Russia this week, the question is, what will they talk about?
