Venezuela heading for Cuba-style regime

In the latest attempt to strengthen his grip on power, the beleaguered Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has ordered for writing a new constitution. The socialist leader’s call for a constitutional assembly has further angered his opponents whose relentless campaign to oust him has brought hundreds of thousands into the streets demanding his removal.
The move comes two days after Pope Francis appealed to Maduro’s government and opposition to end violence that is hurting Venezuelans. Pope earlier encouraged the government to seek a negotiated solution.
In what can be the growing isolation of Venezuela, European Parliament passed a resolution condemning the “brutal repression” of protesters by state security forces. More than 30 people have been killed in demonstrations over the past month. The parliament demanded Venezuelan government must ensure the full restoration of the democratic order, establish an electoral calendar that would allow “free and transparent electoral processes and immediately release all political prisoners.”
The European Parliament’s call came just a day after Venezuela’s Foreign Minister Delcy Rodriguez said the country would start a process to withdraw from the Organization of American States (OSA) in a response to a special meeting to discuss Venezuela’s political crisis. OAS Secretary General Luis Almagro had berated the Maduro administration after the Venezuelan leader stripped powers from the opposition-controlled National Assembly. US President Donald Trump called the situation in Venezuela “a mess” and “very sad.”
Now Maduro called for constitutional changes as protest marches have become daily occurrence across the country. The opposition decried the move as an illegal power grab and a coup against the Venezuelan people. They said it was symptomatic of weak governance and Maduro is not going forward, but towards the cliff.
They said that Venezuela, whose economy and society are frayed to the breaking point, was slipping further into authoritarian rule. Julio Borges, president of the opposition-controlled National Assembly, warned that a constitutional convention would allow a push by Maduro towards a “Cuban-style” regime. On the other hand, Maduro said there was provision in the country’s constitution that allows “the people of Venezuela” to transform their state and its charter. “I activate the assembly for the people to take power,” Maduro said.
Protests and street battles are becoming increasingly commonplace in oil-rich nation. Triple-digit inflation and widespread hunger after two decades of socialist rule have engendered anger among Venezuelans. Given the government’s dismal track record, it is imperative that Maduro should resign and speed up timing of the 2018 presidential elections. A free and fair election is possible only if the opposition leaders are released from prison and allowed to run for office, and the powers of the opposition-controlled National Assembly restored.
To achieve these, Venezuela’s neighbors and international community should deploy carrot-and-stick method. Organization of American States and the United Nations must make clear to Maduro’s government that there will be real costs for its failure to uphold democratic standards. Also they should make the Venezuelans understand that that if they return to the democratic fold, the international community will help them to recover stability and growth.