El Nacional: Venezuela in Institutional Limbo, Calls for Credible Elections 'Now!'

El Nacional, a prominent Venezuelan newspaper, expresses deep skepticism and criticism regarding the current political climate in Venezuela. The editorial frames the situation not as a genuine democratic transition but as an 'institutional limbo' where the government's rhetoric of 'openness,' 'coexistence,' and 'peace' serves to mask a reality of continued repression and undemocratic practices.

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We find ourselves in an institutional limbo, a silent struggle with rules of the game that are not compatible with liberal democracy, but which shelters under the image of 'openness,' 'coexistence and peace' proclaimed by the Rodríguez brothers.

The article meticulously details the perceived shortcomings of the current political landscape. It points to the selective nature of amnesties granted, suggesting they are at the discretion of politicized judges and officials. The appointment of figures like Larry Devoe as the new prosecutor and Gustavo Gómez López to lead the FAN (presumably the Bolivarian National Armed Forces) is presented as rewards for repressive actions, not as steps towards reform. The recent repression of a march demanding better wages further underscores this critical perspective.

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The amnesty is selective, at the discretion of politicized judges and officials; the new prosecutor, Larry Devoe, is known for trying to launder crimes against humanity in international arenas; Gustavo Gómez López is in charge of the FAN, as a reward for his repressive work; the march demanding better wages was repressed, and Diosdado... remains Diosdado.

Furthermore, El Nacional highlights the plight of political prisoners, noting that while hundreds have been released, a significant number remain incarcerated. The process of having their cases reviewed by the same judges who initially imprisoned them, often without sufficient evidence, is described as a painful and inadequate form of justice. The case of journalist Ramón Centeno, who spent four years in harsh conditions only for his case to be dismissed due to lack of evidence, is cited as a stark example of this flawed system and the lack of true reconciliation or reparation.

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The only way to overcome this is the execution of credible elections under international supervision so that popular will can be expressed.

From a Venezuelan perspective, as reflected in El Nacional, the call for 'credible elections' is paramount. The editorial argues that elections, supervised internationally, are the only viable path to express the popular will and overcome the deep-seated institutional crisis. The current government's perceived reluctance to hold such elections, even as interim mandates expire, is viewed with suspicion. The piece implicitly suggests that the government fears the outcome of a truly democratic electoral process. The slogan '¡Elecciones ya!' (Elections Now!) encapsulates the urgent demand for a return to genuine democratic governance, free from the current administration's control and manipulation.

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Why would convening elections - the interim mandate would expire on July 3rd - be a risk for the three-phase plan? Could it not be the opposite, a frantic and unstoppable impulse towards progress?