Venezuela political crisis under Chavismo

Analysts trace Venezuela’s deepening political, economic and social crisis to the policies and institutional weakening that began with Hugo Chávez’s 1999 election and continued under his successors. The regime retains control of the presidency, regional governments, the legislature, the judiciary and security forces, while co‑opting key economic sectors, suggesting a tactical withdrawal rather than a genuine power shift.

In early July 2026, a U.S. military strike captured President Nicolás Maduro and National Assembly deputy Cilia Flores, an event described by activists as a new “Plan Condor.” Within weeks, a double earthquake of magnitude 7+ devastated the central‑north region, killing thousands and displacing many. Venezuelan youth and community leaders invoked Chávez’s rhetoric of patriotism and solidarity to frame their resistance to the foreign intervention and to mobilise humanitarian response, highlighting the enduring political weight of Chávez’s legacy in shaping the country’s reaction to both external pressure and natural disaster.