How can Venezuela be more democratic with less democracy? That’s the question that arises when we perceive that, in the end, there is a strong international support for a coup. It seems to be the only way to stop the growing and unrestricted power from Maduro´s government. A very difficult situation to assess as is still within a democratic system, although, failing on transparency and accountability to their citizens and the international community. The fact that the opposition leader Leopoldo Lopez was under arrest marks a clear red line that forces the global community to act by demanding responsibility. Only the existence of political prisoners (Lopez is the most famous prisoner but not the only one), evidence State fragility in terms of guarantees.  Nevertheless, the “foreign intervention” is not the answer, and the suggestion from U.S for a military one is totally out of question. Only the support to Venezuela´s citizens by a steady action and supervision that their rights are exercised in total freedom, is what really matters. Anticipated and transparent elections under international support seems to be the most logical and acceptable response. The particular situation of each prisoner should be seen under a different light and with full intervention from international institutions.

The presence of Leopoldo Lopez and part of their family in the Spanish Embassy marks an inflexion point on Spain´s support and need to be addressed with cautions and limited on time. In addition, gaining support from the European organisms and leaders. The fact that is precisely Spain that hosts them it makes reflect about the parallel with Catalonia crisis. Spain holds political prisoners and is failing to comply with an European focus on reshaping national sovereignty to make of the Nation a brand new-European-global structure. Catalonia´s claims are not incompatible or an utopian dream but a tangible project that only needs dialogue and negotiation to explore and discover a way-out within a legal framework. Its possible. As well as in Venezuela, the Constitution becomes the main tool: for Maduro to keep their action untouched and for #Spain to become more repressive, therefore stagnated within there own rules. The only goal should be the full implementation of a Rule of Law system and not legal documents implemented by politicians.

Now, looking back on time we are convinced that it was a mistake to declare Juan Guaidó President, for several reasons: the first one, because he does not gain support from the majority of the military sector and, above all, does not gain support from the majority of citizens. Its quite a pacific assumption that not Maduro, neither the opposition leaders have full trust and confidence from the population. Which means that is a break of the main link that allows a healthy democratic system: a harmonically rapport citizens-political representatives. Venezuela´s political system has become unreliable, therefore may become a fragile State.

Trying to interfere and judge Venezuela´s citizenship intentions its much more of what they need and must be reduced to support them on democratic guarantees. A global world demands global action but without undermining national sovereignty and people´s will. It’s through reshaping national structures that international action or foreign participation is allowed, not a tyrannical relationship of imposing ideologies or specific systems when there is clearly a Government that is moving through a legal –although instable and unreliable- framework.

The fact is that Maduro´s government has become abusive and more repressive partly because of an old agenda coming from Chavez but also exacerbated and accelerated with the oil crisis. US its just part of this “political game of power” and the imposed sanctions even threaten- it does not necessary represents an issue of importance for them as we may believe. In fact, a military intervention is highly unlikely as Donald Trump has no support within the Republican party, goes against the idea of changing American establishment and is not the political momentum for it. Maybe there also other private interests in addition to America´interests. So, listening to Maduro´s eternal “anti-imperialism message” is not accurate and not updated because the American political focus is not being ruled by the same than decades ago. America has changed and that also involves Latin America, however, a rusty political message from Maduro makes them looks as responsible of Venezuela´s crisis as a way to distract the attention from their own failures in economic-financial terms.

Democracy and legality is just one and shouldn’t be put it into consideration or even worse, choose between one and the other. Is a truly crossroads taking into account that Maduro´s government, although abusive, is legal and the proclamation of Guaidó as President is legitimate but illegal.

In fact it supposes a military coup, which seems more an interest of private/foreign interests rather than citizenship-based approaches with international support and towards safe anticipated elections within a clean Justice system.

*https://www.sopitas.com/noticias/tanques-tanquetas-manifestaciones-venezuela-maduro-guaido/

*Spanish version Venezuela entre la Democracia y la Legalidad

https://thesustainabilityreader.com/2019/05/08/venezuela-among-democracy-and-legality/