Venezuela’s Maduro extends state of emergency again

Caracas / AFP

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has extended the country’s state of “economic emergency” for another 60 days, an official newspaper reported, a sign of declining conditions in the crisis-hit country.
The state of emergency, in place since January, was necessary due to “extraordinary… social, economic, political, natural and ecological” pressures, according to the presidential decree, signed by Maduro on Tuesday and released on Wednesday.
The declaration allows the government to seize assets of private companies to obtain essential food and goods.
It was the third time the state of economic emergency has been extended.
In May, Maduro declared a general state of emergency, broadening the scope of the economic emergency degree and allowing security units to tackle food and energy shortages and public unrest. Maduro is trying to cling to power and avert the total collapse of his oil-dependent country.
This week, he greatly boosted the authority of his defense minister, making him responsible for distributing food, medicine and basic goods. The armed forces have also taken control of Venezuela’s five main seaports.
Luis Almagro, secretary general of the Organization of American States, said on Wednesday that Maduro’s decision to turn key government functions over to the military is “not normal.”
An estimated 80 percent of food items, medicines and other basics are in short supply in Venezuela. Inflation hit 180 percent last year and the IMF has forecast it at 720 percent this year.