Crisis in Venezuela - Maduro's Ongoing Power Struggle | DW Documentary

Oct 23, 2024 | Nicolás Maduro has been president of Venezuela since 2013. He rules the country, which faces grave political and economic problems, with an iron fist. Despite massive criticism from home and abroad, Maduro is clinging to power. Successfully, so far.


Venezuela experienced many dramatic events in recent decades. There was the "Bolivarian Revolution" started by Hugo Chávez, who was elected president in 1998 and introduced a socialist system to the country. There were also attempted coups, violent protests, and severe economic crises — despite the fact that Venezuela has the largest oil reserves in the world.

After the illness and death of Hugo Chávez in 2013, Nicolás Maduro succeeded as president. The former bus driver and socialist set himself the goal of continuing Venezuela's socialist revolution, at any cost.

His rule has been authoritarian. Corruption within Venezuela's state elite and mismanagement are widespread. Years of poor economic decisions have driven the country to ruin under Maduro's presidency. Millions of people in Venezuela are impoverished, and many have fled to neighboring countries.

Yet despite opposition attempts to force him out, Maduro has survived. He was declared the winner in Venezuela’s 2024 presidential elections in July - this, although the parliament had tried to remove him from office in 2017 already. People took to the streets to demand his resignation back then and this year again.

However, none of this seems to have affected Maduro - and following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and the resulting rift between Russia and North America and Europe, the international geopolitical situation has changed. The world is more desperate for oil than ever; and a vast quantity of oil is lying dormant underground in Venezuela.

Venezuela - Maduros Machtkampf | Doku HD Reupload | ARTE

Sep 7, 2024 | Präsident Maduro regiert Venezuela seit elf Jahren mit harter Hand. Trotz Unruhen und Wirtschaftssanktionen der USA hält er an der Macht fest. Maduro stürzte das Land in die schlimmste humanitäre Krise seiner Geschichte. Jahrelang galt er im Westen als Paria, doch nun ist er wieder salonfähig: denn seit dem Krieg in der Ukraine braucht die Welt dringend venezolanisches Öl.

Vom Busfahrer zum Präsidenten: Nicolás Maduro gibt so schnell nicht auf. Mit unerschütterlichem Glauben an seinen guten Stern und glühendem Sendungsbewusstsein sieht er es als seine Mission an, die sozialistische Revolution Venezuelas um jeden Preis fortzuführen. Einst war Venezuela das reichste Land Lateinamerikas. Seit Maduros Amtsantritt befindet es sich in der schwersten humanitären, sozialen, monetären und wirtschaftlichen Krise seiner Geschichte, zerrüttet von autoritärem Regierungsstil, ideologischer Verhärtung und jahrelangen wirtschaftlichen Fehlentscheidungen.

Die Ölproduktion brach von fast vier Millionen auf weniger als 500.000 Barrel pro Tag ein. Die Inflation erreichte einen Rekordwert von über 3.000 Prozent. Mittlerweile leben 90 Prozent der Bevölkerung unter der Armutsgrenze. Millionen Venezolaner haben das Land verlassen.

Auf die sozialen Unruhen reagierte Maduro mit einem zunehmend diktatorischen Führungsstil. Er machte die Opposition mundtot, brachte die Presse zum Schweigen und ließ sich als Alleinherrscher feiern. Jahrelang wurde er von der internationalen Gemeinschaft ausgegrenzt und von internationalen Treffen ausgeschlossen. Doch der Krieg in der Ukraine hat das geopolitische Kräfteverhältnis tief erschüttert. Heute braucht die Welt dringend venezolanisches Öl. Vom Paria wird Nicolas Maduro wieder zum gefragten Gesprächspartner und unverzichtbaren Verbündeten.

Dokumentation von Paul Cabanis (F 2024, 52 Min)
Video verfügbar bis zum 21/02/2025

Nicolás Maduro Blocks X for 10 Days in Venezuela amid Spat with Elon Musk

THE GUARDIAN: President accuses social network’s owner of using it to ‘incite hatred’ after country’s disputed election

President Nicolás Maduro said he had ordered a 10-day block on access to X in Venezuela, accusing the owner, Elon Musk, of using the social network to promote hatred after the country’s disputed presidential election.

Associated Press (AP) journalists in Caracas found that by Thursday night posts had stopped loading on X on two private telephone services and the state-owned Movilnet.

“Elon Musk is the owner of X and has violated all the rules of the social network itself,” said Maduro in a speech after a march by pro-government groups. He alleged Musk had “incited hatred”.

Maduro also accused the social network of being used by his opponents to create political unrest. » | Associated Press in Caracas | Friday, August 19, 2024

The Lincoln Project: Venezuela

Aug 7, 2024 | While we're fighting for democracy at home, let's remember foreign dictators are following Trump's example.

Inside Venezuela: Maduro Targets Opposition Leaders After Contested Election

Aug 6, 2024 | To Venezuela now, where opposition politicians are urging the police and armed forces to abandon President Nicolás Maduro - nine days after he claimed the most dubious of election victories.

Nicolás Maduro Vows to ‘Pulverise’ Challenge to His Rule after Disputed Venezuela Election

THE GUARDIAN: Maduro told troops he is ‘willing to do anything’ to protect his ‘revolution’ amid growing criticism of crackdown on opposition

The Venezuelan strongman Nicolás Maduro has vowed to “pulverise” the latest challenge to his rule and told troops he is “willing to do anything” to protect his “revolution” amid growing criticism of the crackdown that followed last week’s disputed election.

Maduro says more than 2,000 people have been arrested in the days since the 28 July vote while human rights groups say at least 22 people have been killed.

On Sunday, the EU said it was “seriously concerned” about the growing number of arbitrary detentions in Venezuela and the harassment of the opposition, which has produced evidence suggesting its candidate, Edmundo González, won the election.

“The European Union calls on Venezuelan authorities to put an end to arbitrary detentions, repression and violent rhetoric against members of the opposition and civil society, and to release all political prisoners,” the EU’s foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell, said in a statement. » | Tom Phillips in Caracas | Monday, August 5, 2024

Elon Musk Blasts Venezuela’s Maduro in an Escalating War of Words

THE NEW YORK TIMES: Mr. Musk, who has long criticized leftist politicians, called President Nicolás Maduro a “dictator” and compared him to a donkey.

“Let’s go for it, Elon Musk,” said President Nicolás Maduro, shown on Wednesday during a news conference in Caracas. | Alejandro Cegarra for The New York Times
Over the last four days, Elon Musk has spoken out more than 50 times about President Nicolás Maduro of Venezuela — and the comments have been far from flattering.

“Shame on Dictator Maduro,” Mr. Musk wrote on X on Sunday, as results came in from Venezuela’s presidential election, which has been criticized as deeply flawed. The next morning, Mr. Musk posted that there had been “major election fraud by Maduro.” Since then, the world’s richest man has also compared Mr. Maduro to a donkey and suggested that he would be open to fighting the autocratic leader in hand-to-hand combat.

Mr. Musk, the 53-year-old chief executive of Tesla and SpaceX, has often criticized heads of state, including President Biden, on X. But the attacks against Mr. Maduro, who is one of the prominent symbols of the left in Latin America, stood out for their sudden volume and aggression.

They were part of a pattern by Mr. Musk of denouncing leftist ideals and socialism. In Venezuela, he has said, he sees a failed state with a collapsed economy that he blames on the corruption of leftist politicians. In some of his posts, Mr. Musk, who has endorsed former President Donald J. Trump in the U.S. presidential race, suggested that the United States could become like Venezuela if voters backed the Democratic Party in November. » | Ryan Mac and Simon Romero. Ryan Mac reported from Los Angeles, and Simon Romero from Mexico City. | Thursday, August 1, 2024

Venezuela - Maduros Machtkampf | Doku HD | ARTE

Jul 17, 2024 | Präsident Maduro regiert Venezuela seit elf Jahren mit harter Hand. Trotz Unruhen und Wirtschaftssanktionen der USA hält er an der Macht fest. Maduro stürzte das Land in die schlimmste humanitäre Krise seiner Geschichte. Jahrelang galt er im Westen als Paria, doch nun ist er wieder salonfähig: denn seit dem Krieg in der Ukraine braucht die Welt dringend venezolanisches Öl.

Vom Busfahrer zum Präsidenten: Nicolás Maduro gibt so schnell nicht auf. Mit unerschütterlichem Glauben an seinen guten Stern und glühendem Sendungsbewusstsein sieht er es als seine Mission an, die sozialistische Revolution Venezuelas um jeden Preis fortzuführen. Einst war Venezuela das reichste Land Lateinamerikas. Seit Maduros Amtsantritt befindet es sich in der schwersten humanitären, sozialen, monetären und wirtschaftlichen Krise seiner Geschichte, zerrüttet von autoritärem Regierungsstil, ideologischer Verhärtung und jahrelangen wirtschaftlichen Fehlentscheidungen. Die Ölproduktion brach von fast vier Millionen auf weniger als 500.000 Barrel pro Tag ein. Die Inflation erreichte einen Rekordwert von über 3.000 Prozent. Mittlerweile leben 90 Prozent der Bevölkerung unter der Armutsgrenze. Millionen Venezolaner haben das Land verlassen.

Auf die sozialen Unruhen reagierte Maduro mit einem zunehmend diktatorischen Führungsstil. Er machte die Opposition mundtot, brachte die Presse zum Schweigen und ließ sich als Alleinherrscher feiern. Jahrelang wurde er von der internationalen Gemeinschaft ausgegrenzt und von internationalen Treffen ausgeschlossen. Doch der Krieg in der Ukraine hat das geopolitische Kräfteverhältnis tief erschüttert. Heute braucht die Welt dringend venezolanisches Öl. Vom Paria wird Nicolas Maduro wieder zum gefragten Gesprächspartner und unverzichtbaren Verbündeten.

Dokumentation von Paul Cabanis (F 2024, 52 Min)
Video verfügbar bis zum 22/08/2024

US Indictment of Maduro Is Cruel & Inhuman Action – Prof. Salas

In the latest move against an already struggling Venezuela, US Attorney General William Barr has announced the indictment of President Maduro and more than a dozen other Venezuelan officials for a narco-terrorism and cocaine trafficking conspiracy. Author and professor of Latin American History at Pomona College Miguel Tinker Salas shares his expertise.

'John Bolton Tried to Assassinate Me': Interview with Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro

The Grayzone's Max Blumenthal sits down with Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in Caracas. We discuss the plots to kill him, US sanctions on food distribution, corruption allegations, and the corporate media's industrial grade demonization campaign against him and his elected government.

Pompeo Won’t Seek OK to Attack Venezuela

Juan Guaidó's back. The Venezuelan opposition leader is once again inviting US military intervention, after another failed coup attempt last week. US Secretary of State Pompeo, meanwhile, says he won't promise to consult Congress before launching a potential attack. All this while the Venezuelan embassy in DC continues to be under siege by Guaidó supporters. For more on this, we turn to investigative journalist Ben Swann.

As Venezuela Coup Fizzles, Pompeo Threatens US Attack

Self-proclaimed Venezuelan president Juan Guaidó's coup yesterday failed to get off the ground. The military did not join him and protests were barely seen outside a few of Caracas's wealthy neighborhoods. Frustrated and furious, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo responded by threatening direct US military action to overthrow President Maduro. An urgent call with Russian foreign minister is scheduled today. Are neocons about to ignite the earth?

What's Next for Venezuela after 'Attempted Coup'? | Inside Story

President Nicolás Maduro vows to prosecute those behind dramatic attempt to oust him. Venezuela's president is hailing victory after what he calls an attempted coup. Nicolas Maduro is promising to prosecute those behind a dramatic attempt to remove him from office.

On Tuesday, opposition leader Juan Guaidó called on the army to oust Maduro. But by the end of the day, Guaidó was in hiding, and dozens of his supporters were injured in scuffles with security forces.

Both sides are urging Venezuelans to hold more protests. Who's backing them? And what's next in this drawn-out political crisis?

Presenter: Imran Khan | Guests: Ramon Muchacho - former mayor of Chacao District, an opposition stronghold in Caracas; Paul Dobson - journalist at venezuelaanalysis.com; Tom Long - Professor of South American Politics at Warwick University, UK

Guaidó’s Coup Is a ‘Farce’ – Daniel McAdams

Venezuela’s opposition leader and US-back presidential aspirant Juan Guaidó has called for a military uprising in his latest effort to topple President Nicolás Maduro. Clashes have broken out between police and protesters in Caracas. Meanwhile police in Washington, DC have set up barricades between the pro-Maduro activists occupying Venezuela’s embassy and more recent arrivals protesting in favor of Guaidó. Rachel Blevins reports. Daniel McAdams of the Ron Paul Institute joins News.Views.Hughes to weigh in.

Venezuelan Government Says 'Coup Attempt' Failed | Al Jazeera English

Chaos and violence fill the streets of Caracas after Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaidó called for a "military uprising" against the government of Nicolás Maduro. Warning: this video contains some graphic content.

Venezuela Crisis: Maduro Claims Victory over 'Deranged' Coup Attempt

THE GUARDIAN: President blames Trump imperialists and ‘coup-mongering far right’ as rival Juan Guaidó calls for more protests

Nicolás Maduro claimed his troops have thwarted a botched attempt to topple him masterminded by Venezuela’s “coup-mongering far right” and Donald Trump’s deranged imperialist “gang”.

In an hour-long address to the nation on Tuesday night – his first since the pre-dawn uprising began – Maduro accused opposition leader Juan Guaidó and his political mentor Leopoldo López of seeking to spark an armed confrontation that might be used as a pretext for a foreign military intervention.

However, “loyal and obedient” members of Venezuela’s Bolivarian armed forces had put down the mutiny within hours of it starting shortly after 4am, Maduro claimed, in direct contradiction to Guaidó’s earlier remark that the president no longer had military backing. » | Wednesday, May 1, 2019


THE GUARDIAN: Venezuela: Moscow persuaded Maduro not to step down, US claims » | Julian Borger in Washington and Joe Parkin Daniels in Bogotá | Tuesday, April 30, 2019

Pence Asks UN to Recognize Guaidó in Venezuela

At a meeting of the United Nations Security Council in New York City, US Vice President Mike Pence called on the UN to recognize Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaidó as president and revoke the credentials of Venezuela’s ambassador. RT’s Dan Cohen has more.

Guaidó Stripped of Immunity by Venezuelan Legislators | Al Jazeera English

Politicians loyal to Venezuela's President Nicolás Maduro have stripped opposition leader Juan Guaidó of immunity. It means he could now be prosecuted on accusations of violating the constitution -- after declaring himself interim president. The trial will likely start soon but this pits Maduro's government against the more than 60 countries that have backed Guaidó. Al Jazeera's Lucia Newman reports from Caracas.

Sanders on Venezuela - Does His Critique of US Policy Go Far Enough?

At the CNN town hall, Sanders opposed U.S. intervention in Venezuela, refused to call Maduro a dictator, or recognize Guaidó, but he didn’t call for an end to sanctions - with Jacqueline Luqman, Eugene Puryear, Norman Solomon and host Paul Jay

Guaidó Returns to Venezuela as US Issues Warning to Maduro

THE GUARDIAN: Washington says Maduro faces ‘strong and significant response’ if Guaidó is detained or threatened after tour of South America

Washington has warned Nicolás Maduro he faces a “strong and significant response” if his rival, Juan Guaidó, is detained or threatened as he tries to reenter Venezuela on Monday before a day of fresh protests.

Guaidó sneaked out of Venezuela on the eve of a failed bid to force humanitarian aid into the economically ravaged country on 23 February and subsequently set off on a five-nation tour of South America.

The 35-year-old visited Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador and Paraguay despite a travel ban introduced after his decision to challenge Maduro by declaring himself Venezuela’s rightful interim president.

Most western governments now recognise Guaidó as Venezuela’s legitimate interim president but, beyond widespread popular support, he enjoys little concrete power in Venezuela. » | Tom Phillips, Latin America correspondent | Monday, March 4, 2019