An economy in freefall. A humanitarian crisis that has caused millions to flee the country. Frequent mass demonstrations against the government. And an opposition movement whose leader is recognized by dozens of countries as the legitimate interim president. In many places and at many points in history, these ingredients have proven sufficient for regime change. But in Venezuela, the government of President Nicolas Maduro continues to hang on.
For this week’s interview on Trend Lines, Raul Gallegos joins WPR’s Elliot Waldman for a conversation about how Maduro has been able to remain entrenched in the presidential palace in Caracas despite having the odds stacked against him by any objective measure. Gallegos is a director at the political risk consultancy Control Risks. He has been a columnist for Bloomberg and Thomson Reuters, and was also a Caracas correspondent for Dow Jones and the Wall Street Journal. He is the author of “Crude Nation: How Oil Riches Ruined Venezuela.”
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Relevant Articles on WPR:
Guaido’s Democratic Push Faces an Uncertain Future in Venezuela
The OAS Ramps Up Regional Pressure on Venezuela Through the Rio Treaty
Reviving Venezuela’s Oil Industry Is Easier Said Than Done
Across Latin America, Venezuelans Reel From a Crisis That Has No End in Sight
Trend Lines is produced and edited by Peter Dörrie, a freelance journalist and analyst focusing on security and resource politics in Africa. You can follow him on Twitter at @peterdoerrie.
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