Venezuela marks five months without Maduro amid stalled economic and political recovery

Five months after a military operation ousted Nicolás Maduro, Venezuela remains mired in economic hardship and political ambiguity. The dollar continues to rise daily, weekly protests over wages persist, and the ruling Chavista movement still controls the government apparatus.

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This is a transition government that, until now, favors the interests of the United States. The people have not fully achieved neither their freedom nor their democracy.

Despite initial optimism following the January 3 operation and subsequent U.S. engagement in oil and mining, many Venezuelans report a lack of tangible economic relief. The nation's political trajectory, now under the guidance of interim president Delcy Rodríguez, remains uncertain. While the easing of U.S. sanctions has facilitated oil deals and Venezuela's return to international financial bodies like the IMF, these economic announcements have not translated into improved living standards for the general population.

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The only one who dances is him (Trump), thinking that in November he is going to win the elections with the vote of the Latino citizens.

Citizens voice deep dissatisfaction, arguing that fundamental freedoms and democratic principles are still lacking. Luis Laguado, a 79-year-old retiree, stated that the transition government primarily serves U.S. interests and that the people have not fully attained liberty or democracy. He participated in a protest for dignified pensions, citing insufficient increases in bonuses for retirees and active workers, which fall far short of the cost of a basic food basket exceeding $700 monthly.

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I don't think anything has improved, quite the opposite, it has worsened because the dollar keeps rising.

The Venezuelan currency has depreciated by 45% in the first five months of the year, significantly outpacing the 8% depreciation seen throughout 2025. Inflation reached 90% by April. Both Laguado and Ronny Oropeza, a 66-year-old coffee vendor, believe that claims of economic improvement, particularly those made by Donald Trump, are misinformed. Oropeza lamented that the situation has worsened as the dollar continues its upward trend.

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Trump is misinformed, and warned that the reality is that Venezuelans are economically worse off.