Chavismo's tradition of blaming 'laboratories' over assuming responsibility

Venezuelan authorities under the Chavismo movement have a long-standing habit of deflecting responsibility for state failures, attributing them to "laboratories," conspiracies, and artificial media campaigns. This pattern, which has persisted for over two decades, stands in stark contrast to the early image of Hugo Chávez, who famously accepted responsibility for a failed coup attempt on national television. However, once in power, particularly after April 2002, Chávez began blaming "the oligarchy" and media outlets for internal crises, including the oil strike and national insecurity.

Most recently, acting president Delcy Rodríguez exemplified this deflection. When questioned about the state's delayed response to a double earthquake on June 24, she dismissively labeled concerns raised by affected individuals as a product of an opinion "matrix." Rodríguez, who governs without a popular vote and outside the constitutional framework, also characterized the widespread citizen initiative to aid rescue efforts and deliver supplies in La Guaira as the work of a "laboratory."

When pressed by a journalist about whether she wished the state had acted differently, her handlers abruptly cut off the microphone. This arrogant and immature attitude, where any criticism is perceived as an attack, is characteristic of Chavismo's default mode over the past two decades. The article argues that Chávez's policies, not external forces, were the root cause of the internal crisis at Petróleos de Venezuela (Pdvsa) and the subsequent national strike.