From the outside looking in, it’s hard to understand what is happening in Venezuela these days. On the one hand Nicolás Maduro seems stronger than he’s been in years. The Venezuelan economy seems to have bottomed out, after years of terrible crisis. And the opposition is divided and struggling to connect with the Venezuelan people. On the other, the opposition and the Maduro government are back at the negotiating table and there is a sense that elections scheduled for 2024 might improve the political climate, even if those involved know that those elections won’t be free and fair. On this week’s episode, Brian Winter spoke to journalist Ana Vanessa Herrero, The Washington Post correspondent in Caracas, about how Venezuelans are faring economically, how most people see the Maduro regime and the latest developments in the Venezuelan opposition as they prepare for primaries and elections.
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Guests:
Ana Vanessa Herrero is a reporter for The Washington Post based in Caracas, Venezuela.
Brian Winter is the editor-in-chief of Americas Quarterly.
Suggested reading:
The U.S. Should Have Moderate Expectations for Venezuela’s Election by Ryan Berg
Venezuela Isn’t on Track for 2024 Elections by Guillermo Zubillaga
AQ Podcast: Changing U.S. Policy Toward Venezuela
