Maduro sends troops to intimidate the enemy, but the soldiers want to see Maria Corina Machado: “Has the lady arrived?”

At a crossroads, not far Fuel station Overgrown, faded clad young men and women Uniforms Greens are stopping vehicles returning from the rally Opponents to the President of Venezuela, Nicolás MaduroThey ask their passengers to identify themselves and inspect their cars, trucks and motorcycles.

Such checkpoints have proliferated across the country’s vast tropical plains, forested highlands and coastline ahead of Sunday’s presidential election, aimed at intimidating and occasionally detaining government critics. They often ask for a ride, bananas, or a “collaboration,” a small bribe in Venezuelan parlance.

But still Power game usually fails. While their superiors hide from the scorching sun, rank-and-file soldiers betray their disaffection with Maduro and their openness to a new commander-in-chief. “Has the lady come? Were there many others?”A shocked soldier asked about the opposition leader. Maria Corina Machado. “We wanted to see it, but there’s no Wi-Fi here,” whispered another.

Since coming to power in 2013, Ripe Rewarding high-ranking officials with lucrative government jobs and control of key industries, he did not hesitate to send troops to suppress protests. But a few days ago he self-declared a close vote that threatened his grip on power Socialist Working harder than ever to raise loyalty armed forces – Traditional arbiter of political disputes Venezuela – and keep the hierarchy under control.

In recent days, the president has appeared Government Television Attending a graduation ceremony for 25,000 police officers, he hailed them as the first line against what he called Conservative efforts cause a tragedy. In addition, he promoted dozens of officers and gave his veteran a new title Defense Minister, Vladimir Padrino Lopez: “The public of the sovereign people”.

“Venezuela’s fate depends on our successMaduro said at a rally this month. “If they don’t want Venezuela to descend into a bloodbath, we will guarantee the biggest victory in the electoral history of our people in a fratricidal civil war caused by fascists.”

The Military Hierarchy Standing firmly by Maduro’s side, he wades through the political mud and doesn’t confine himself to his traditional role of securing votes.

General Domingo Hernandez LaresThe Chief of the Joint Chiefs of Staff posted a photo on social media in which he allegedly appeared. Machado In front of a whiteboard with talking notes “deletion“of the armed forces. Machado is barred from running for office and is supporting an alternative candidate Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia, called the allegation “fake news”. A press watchdog said the film was doctored.

Maduro’s enemies They have been trying to win over skeptics within the military for some time.

The armed forces was an integral part of the control exercised Ripe About his mentor and predecessor, the former commander-in-chief Hugo Chavez1992 led to an uprising against the unpopular austerity government. When Chávez was elected president in 1998, he purged the authorities at home. America To fight communism, he appointed fellow coup leaders to high posts and allocated the country’s oil wealth to warplanes and expensive military equipment.

Maduro, without Chávez’s military pedigree, promoted his own group Military alliesMany of them, like him, face charges of corruption and human rights abuses.

The National Guard It has prudently imported anti-insurgency equipment and updated armored vehicles that could be used to quell potential protests, the retired general said. Rodolfo CamachoMaduro opposition writing a report on military affairs. Discontent among the fundamentals is widespread.

Meanwhile, the government does not hesitate to punish soldiers who cross the border. Half of the 301 opponents of the president currently imprisoned and classified as political prisoners by Foro Penal, a Caracas-based legal aid cooperative, are members of the armed forces.

He Ministry of Defence It did not respond to an email request for comment. While no one expected a revolt in the barracks, discontent among the bases was widespread, he noted. William BrownfieldFormer US Ambassador to Venezuela and member Wilson Center In Washington.

As Venezuela’s economy spiraled out of control—shrinking 71% between 2012 and 2020, while inflation hit 130,000%—the cash bonuses and benefits provided to military families have lost their luster. The Abandonment Among the army’s roughly 150,000 troops have surged and many have joined millions of Venezuelans fleeing the country rather than defend a government they no longer support.

“Recruits, enlisted personnel and subordinate officers were not richBrownfield said. “There may be many family members who have left Venezuela and are susceptible to the opposition’s message.”

General Manuel Christopher Figueira, a former intelligence chief, noted that the movement to challenge Maduro could emerge at the grassroots in the form of a refusal to suppress potential protests. Opposition leaders have vowed to “protect” the handling of their votes, and given the recent history of political violence, many Venezuelans are preparing for post-election demonstrations.

“They’re not going to rebel, but they’re not going to disobey orders,” he said. FigueroaHe fled the country in 2019 after leading a failed bid to oust Maduro. Padrino may be the key figure at this crossroads.

Some believe Maduro cannot trust his allies and see Padrino as a possible key piece. At 61, he was one of the last Venezuelan commanders to train America – Studied Psychological Operations at School of the Americas at Fort Benning, Georgia – before Chávez switched sides to the Allies Russia, China And Iran.

In the 2015 parliamentary elections, the opposition won a landslide victory. The Godfather Admitting the results before Maduro conceded defeat, he appeared on state television surrounded by his senior commanders.

The Venezuelan military hierarchy has changed its mind before, most notably in 1958, when it overthrew the president. Marcos Perez Jimenez After years of complicity in his dictatorship.

“There will be a lot of pressure on Padrino if there is an avalanche on the street of people supporting the opposition,” he said. Camacho, who worked with the defense minister before being accused of plotting against the government and fleeing the country. “He is the only hope I have.”

(With information from AP)