Analyst: Venezuela Faces Autocratic Normality Without Immediate Transition

Five months after Nicolás Maduro's capture, Venezuelan political analyst Benigno Alarcón observes a deep power struggle rather than a clear democratic transition. In his view, the country stands at a crossroads, facing a potential for free elections that could dismantle the Chavista system or a political and economic normalization that would entrench the ruling elite under new guises.

Alarcón, director of the Center for Political and Governmental Studies at the Andrés Bello Catholic University, believes the existing power structure has proven resilient. He notes that Delcy Rodríguez is not merely acting as a temporary placeholder for Maduro but is actively shaping her own governance scheme. This suggests a strategic consolidation of power within the existing framework, rather than a genuine move towards democratic reform.

The analyst expresses concern that the most significant threat to Venezuela is not the failure of a transition, but the complete absence of one. He warns against the country accepting an "autocratic normality" as a substitute for democracy. This scenario implies a gradual erosion of democratic principles, where the outward appearance of normalcy masks an underlying authoritarian regime, making it difficult for citizens to recognize or resist the loss of their freedoms.