Cato Institute: Discussion on topic "What's Next in Venezuela?"

The discussion of the event  was between Professor Pedro Urruchurtu, Universidad Central de Venezuela, and the moderator Juan Carlos Hildalgo, Policy Analyst at Cato on Friday, July 19, 2019 at Cato, Washington, DC.  Questions from those in attendance followed the two repartee.

There is rivalry between two politicians who have declared themselves to be the real president of the country.  Importantly, each has support from political blocks:  the Organization of American States with its American dominance is for Juan Guaido, president of its National Assembly.  He refuses to accept the re-election of Nicolas Maduro in May as valid, and has thus cause to believe himself the legitimate acting president.  And, of course, Maduro, the May election winner, has backing from Russia and its Communist block.

The stalemate between them continues.  Both Hildalgo and Urruchurtu see the dispute as a battle between capitalism and socialism, the latter in the presidency of Maduro.

But there is no question, as evinced in the question-and-answer period that there is a humanitarian crisis in the country.  Maduro won't allow humanitarian aid to be brought in; and the panel participants had no avenue nor recourse to suggest whereby the crisis could be obviated, aside from the Red Cross short-term immediate relief packages.  Because countries in the area (and the US, too) are unable to provide relief from the Venezuelan condition of starvation and death since Maduro won't allow outside aid, there is a mass emigrant exodus of from the country--that Urruchurtu concedes could reach levels of 7 million per year, if conditions in the country are not allowed to improve.

The Venezuelan military, with help from Russia, are standing by their President. 

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I came away with an impression.

I am of the opinion that the two factions dividing the country could join together to rule the country
After all, the country needs as much help to regain its posture as a viable state in South America as could be offered!  Might the one faction--the socialist group--govern for two years and then the capitalist group as represented in the candidacy of Juan Guaido?  Or might there be a split of offices in the national government between the two factions as in Iraq?