Abstract:
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Maduro’s desperate power play mirrors Stalin’s tactics
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Unpopularity leads to a risky purge within PSUV
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Fear and paranoia may drive further authoritarian measures
In a desperate bid to retain power, Venezuelan Dictator Nicolás Maduro has resorted to a strategy reminiscent of Stalin’s infamous purges. Amidst a popularity crisis, Maduro has initiated a high-profile «anti-corruption crusade» leading to the arrest of over 60 individuals, including key allies and figures within the PSUV party.
The Unraveling of a Dictator
Maduro’s actions come in the wake of a severe popularity crisis. The 2021 regional elections saw the PSUV party achieve its worst-ever result in a major election. A brief period of economic recovery did little to bolster Maduro’s standing, as public sector workers and their private counterparts took to the streets to protest the government’s labor policies. The discontent grew as the country’s economy slumped towards the end of 2022.
Maduro’s Risky Gambit
In this volatile context, Maduro made the shocking announcement of a massive corruption scheme that had drained PDVSA, the state’s critical fund, dry. This move, seen as a desperate attempt to regain control and popularity, was met with widespread disapproval. The question arises: why would Maduro risk upsetting the kleptocratic system that has helped him retain power, especially when he is already unpopular?
The Fear Factor
The answer lies in fear. Maduro is afraid that his allies, witnessing his dwindling popularity, might abandon him. To prevent this, he has initiated a purge, hoping to eliminate potential threats to his power. This strategy, however, is fraught with risk. By shaking up the system, Maduro might inadvertently trigger the very coup he fears.
Echoes of Stalin
Maduro’s actions echo those of Joseph Stalin in the 1930s. Fearing a coup due to his lack of popular support, Stalin initiated a purge that saw hundreds of thousands locked up, executed, or forcibly disappeared. Maduro’s purge, while not as brutal, is a clear sign of his growing paranoia. As the economic situation worsens and the elections loom, this paranoia is likely to drive him to take even more authoritarian measures.
Conclusion
Maduro’s desperate attempts to retain power, mirroring Stalin’s tactics, reveal a leader driven by fear and paranoia. His actions, far from securing his position, may only serve to further destabilize his regime.