Venezuela Faces a Tsunami of Problems in 2016

 Venezuela is in a crossroad on three different fronts: The first and the most significant is the rampant inflation that by the year 2016 will reach close to the 200%.  On the second front, the Maduro regime faces an internal struggle within the United Socialist Party of Venezuela, PSUV, due to the loss of the Parliamentary elections on December 6. This last event has prompted Maduro’s verbal attacks against the 3 million chavistas that didn’t vote for the regime’s candidates and the thousands that voted for the Opposition. 

Another very significant event that is lurking around Maduro’s head is the arrest of his Narco Nephews who will be facing the US supreme Court on December 17, in New York City, for their involvement in making a deal to smuggle 800 kilos of cocaine into the United States. According with a DEA source, one of these men -Efrain Antonio Campo Flores, was raised by Venezuelan first lady Cilia Flores. The other, Franqui Francisco Flores de Freitas is her nephew.  They were arrested on conspiracy charges in Haiti as they tried to use diplomatic immunity to facilitated their smuggle of drugs into the U.S.

2016 will also present many economic and socio-political challenges for the Opposition in their effort to recuperate from this tsunami of problems that the country is facing. It is going to be very important that Opposition stick together in order `to combat a desperate and fractured regime that has stolen and pilfered trillions of dollars and has bankrupted Venezuela during the past 16-years in power.  The international community must also show their complete support to the restoration of democracy in Venezuela.

                 

Diosdado Cabello: Venezuela 's Commander Chief

Diosdado Cabello, President of the Venezuelan National Assembly, has also been a Governor, Minister, Director of Telecommunications. A new title he recently received is Head of the Soles drug cartel. 

The case of Diosdado Cabello’s as leader of the drug cartel is growing in Washington, with the recent allegations from Leamsy Salazar, Cabello’s former  Security Officer.  Salazar was previously Hugo Chavez's Security Officer for 10 years and he is now in the United States where he is working with DEA in building a case against Diosdado.

As expected Diosdado has denied those allegations and has accused Salazar of being coerced by the United States as another excuse to destabilize Venezuela and overthrow Maduro. The same conspiracy theory was used repeatedly by the Chavez and is now used by the Maduro regime.

Nicolas Maduro has vowed to support Diosdado Cabellos against Salaza’s accusations and has promised to create an International campaign against those allegations. 

Disodado Cabello also has a strong support from Marleny,  his wife “appointed” as the Minister of Tourism;  José David,  his brother “appointed”  Minister of Industry; and other members of his family who have also been “appointed” Government positions. Similar to Saddam Hussein,  and Muammar Gaddafi's families who were “appointed” positions in their Governments.  And we don’t need to go that far,  Fidel Castro’s family and his family in Cuba enjoys the luxury of having their father Fidel and  brother Raul as perpetuated dictators on the Island. 

The Venezuelan people have to be clear that getting rid of the second Commander in Chief –Maduro- won’t bring Democracy to Venezuela without getting rid of Diosdado Cabello also.