Goodbye, Maduro?

Venezuela is desperate to say goodbye to strongman dictator, Nicholas Maduro. Unsurprisingly, he isn’t going quietly.

Scenes from Las Mercedes, Caracas February 27, 2014, during continuing protests in Venezuela. Protests are becoming more clearly distinct between those primarily demanding better security and economic opportunities and those who mostly want President Maduro to resign. (Photo: Andrés E. Azpúrua)

The large-scale protests currently rocking Venezuela aren’t the first major demonstrations against strongman dictator Nicholas Maduro. The current cycle of violent protests caps ten years of widespread, ongoing resistance to the Maduro regime.

Even the news this week that U.S. authorities have officially recognized Maduro’s opponent as the winner in Venezuela’s recent election — in which both sides have claimed victory — doesn’t change the calculus much. It isn’t the first time one of Maduro’s political opponents has been able to garner international support.

“U.S. Recognizes Maduro’s Rival as Winner of Venezuelan Election,” reported Julie Turkewitz for the New York Times on August 1, 2024. “Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken said there was ‘overwhelming evidence’ that Edmundo González had won, despite President Nicolás Maduro’s claim of victory.”

“The United States on Thursday night recognized Venezuela’s opposition presidential candidate, Edmundo González, as the winner of the country’s disputed presidential election,” began Turkewitz.

“Mr. Maduro has yet to produce clear evidence of a victory, and election officials have failed to provide a vote count,” she added. “Mr. González campaign says…