President Maduro and the Post Chávez Era

Dr Rodrigo Acuña’s analysis is on the last three election results in Venezuela, specifically the last two presidential elections in late 2012 and early 2013, and the municipal elections in December 2013. After contextualising the outcomes of these elections, he distinguishes the patterns of continuity and change at a national and international level between the administration of Hugo Chávez and that of the current president Nicolas Maduro. Rodrigo’s presentation concludes with a discussion of the current economic situation in this oil state, and the government’s claims that an economic war is being carried out against it by sections of the business community and the opposition.