Economy & Inflation Venezuela closed 2022 with an inflation rate of 234% 24-01-2023 13:41 Government officials in Venezuela reveal inflation has dropped from 130,000% per annum in 2018 to 234% in 2022, though private forecasters warn hyperinflation remains a threat.
FOREIGN POLICY & DIPLOMACY Maduro pulls out of Argentina-CELAC trip, citing 'aggression' 24-01-2023 00:11 Venezuelan leader cancels planned trip to Buenos Aires for CELAC summit, blaming "plan drawn up within the neo-fascist right wing" that he alleges would have carried out "aggressive actions" against his delegation.
FOREIGN POLICY & DIPLOMACY Maduro's trip to Argentina in doubt as he pulls out of Lula meeting 23-01-2023 15:13 Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro pulls out of scheduled meeting with Lula in Buenos Aires, putting his planned trip to Buenos Aires for CELAC summit in doubt.
Foreign Policy & Diplomacy Venezuelans in Buenos Aires protest against planned Maduro visit 23-01-2023 11:24 Nicolás Maduro due to visit Argentina on Tuesday for CELAC summit, arousing anger amongst the local Venezuelan community and provoking opposition leaders to insist he be arrested for crimes against humanity.
BRAZIL LEADER IN ARGENTINA Lula lands in Buenos Aires seeking rebuild bridges in Latin America 23-01-2023 09:56 Brazilian Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira says Lula's visit to Buenos Aires and attendance at CELAC summit is part of a foreign policy that will seek to "rebuild bridges" with the international community.
FOREIGN POLICY & DIPLOMACY Opposition demands Maduro’s arrest as he confirms CELAC attendance 19-01-2023 14:54 Key figures in Juntos por el Cambio call for Venezuelan “dictator” to be arrested if he sets foot in Argentina for upcoming CELAC summit; US President Joe Biden to skip event in Buenos Aires.
Miss Universe Upset 'We were robbed of Miss Universe,' complains Maduro after US wins crown 17-01-2023 13:03 Nicolás Maduro said on Monday that Venezuela was "robbed" of the Miss Universe crown, adding to the criticism from several contestants following the victory of the United States' R'Bonney Gabriel.
Venezuela Economy Maduro says Venezuela's economy grew 15% in 2022 13-01-2023 12:10 With informal dollarisation and easing of controls, Venezuela's economy has now recorded five quarters of growth between 2021 and 2022 after years of recession and hyperinflation.
Politics in Venezuela Maduro '100% defeatable' says Venezuela opposition leader Guaidó 10-01-2023 17:32 Venezuela's opposition replaced Juan Guaido as the head of a foreign-backed parallel congress, hammering the final nail in the coffin of his "interim government." Despite the setback, he says he's confident Nicolás Maduro can be defeated at the ballot box.
Politics in Venezuela Venezuelan opposition dissolves Guaido's 'interim government' 31-12-2022 09:08 Venezuelan opposition on Friday dissolved the "interim government" led by Juan Guaidó, once the popular and internationally recognized face of the drive to oust leftist leader Nicolas Maduro.
Political crisis in Venezuela Decision on future of Venezuela's opposition 'government' postponed 29-12-2022 14:14 Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaidó puts off decision on whether his "interim government" should be dissolved.
MARKETS Venezuela’s nine-cent bonds lure a distressed-debt veteran 28-12-2022 14:16 Trader raising money to buy defaulted Venezuelan bonds amid signs of easing tensions between President Nicolás Maduro, the political opposition and the United States.
LATIN AMERICA Lula, Maduro show solidarity with CFK after conviction 07-12-2022 18:53 "We express our firm rejection of the permanent media and political persecution to which the vice-president has been subjected," the Venezuelan leader wrote on Twitter.
CRISIS IN VENEZUELA Maduro administration to resume talks with Venezuelan opposition 24-11-2022 01:27 Negotiations between the two sides last took place in October 2021 in Mexico, and international efforts have mounted in recent months to get the talks back on track.
FOREIGN POLICY Colombia leader in rift-healing visit to Venezuela after nine-year pause 02-11-2022 13:13 Meeting in Caracas between Colombia's Gustavo Petro and Venezuela's Nicolás Maduro marks a watershed warming between the once-estranged neighbours.
Human rights Venezuela rejects UN report alleging crimes against humanity 26-09-2022 21:31 UN's Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on Venezuela said last week that military and state intelligence services were part of a scheme "supported by senior authorities" to stifle opposition dissent.
HUMAN RIGHTS & VENEZUELA UN committee releases damning report on human rights abuses in Venezuela 24-09-2022 08:00 Human rights watchdogs call for increased international pressure on government in Caracas following damning United Nations report; Pressure grows on Argentina to revise relations with Maduro administration. by Sam Forster
ATTACK IN RECOLETA Maduro, Lula, Evo Morales condemn attack on former president 02-09-2022 00:17 Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro "energetically" rejects "attack" against Cristina Fernández de Kirchner; Reactions flood in from United States, Bolivia and Brazil.
DIPLOMACY & FOREIGN POLICY Argentina’s ambassador in Venezuela slams ‘hijacking’ of aircraft by courts 17-08-2022 17:48 “There is a feeling of injustice in the Venezuelan people," declares Oscar Laborde, Buenos Aires’ envoy in Caracas, prompting opposition criticism.
Latin America Venezuela and Colombia name ambassadors in step toward normalisation 12-08-2022 21:56 Venezuela and Colombia both named new ambassadors to the other country on Thursday, a first step in normalising diplomatic relations after the recent inauguration of Colombian President Gustavo Petro.
US-Venezuela relations Maduro: US delegation arrives in Venezuela to discuss 'bilateral agenda' 28-06-2022 09:20 Delegation from the United States arrives in Venezuela for talks, extending discussions between Caracas and Washington initiated in March.
Bloomberg US needs to see more from Maduro to ease Venezuela sanctions 19-05-2022 14:16 US National Security Council Senior Director Juan Gonzalez says Maduro administration should take more democratic steps before receiving respite from sanctions.
Venezuela Elections 2024 Venezuela's opposition announces presidential primaries for 2023 17-05-2022 13:02 Venezuela's main opposition announces primaries in 2023 to elect a single candidate to stand against incumbent Nicolás Maduro in the country's next presidential election, scheduled for 2024.
Press Freedom Government pressure forces Venezuelan media to self-censor 09-05-2022 18:30 Under Venezuela's restricted media ecosystem, major media outlets are forced to take protective measures like creating an internal 'VAR,' a form of self-censorship so named in reference to the video assistant referees who often overturn major football decisions.
DIPLOMACY & FOREIGN POLICY Proposal to ‘re-establish ties’ with Maduro draws fire from critics 19-04-2022 20:38 Opposition hardliners, human rights groups and US lawmaker Marco Rubio strongly criticises President Alberto Fernández after he announces that he wants Argentina to re-establish diplomatic relations with Venezuela.
HUMAN RIGHTS & VENEZUELA ICC opens Venezuela office to investigate rights abuses 31-03-2022 22:05 International Criminal Court opens branch in Caracas as part of an investigation into alleged human rights abuses during anti-government protests in 2017.
VENEZUELA ‘INVASION’ PLOT Argentina promises probe as Maduro slams Venezuela ‘invasion plan’ report 17-02-2022 16:37 Argentina’s government says it will investigate claims Macri administration deployed Armed Forces for 2019 military exercises that “contemplated” a potential “invasion” of Venezuela.
FEATURE: VENEZUELA IN CRISIS Venezuela: the decline of an oil giant in crisis 17-01-2022 08:15 The Maracaibo basin in Venezuela was once a flurry of oil activity, with a halo of light over the complex visible at night from a fair distance. Today, it is a humid swamp that stinks of oil from leaking pipes floating on the water.
FOREIGN POLICY Argentina denounces presence of AMIA bombing suspect at Ortega's inauguration 11-01-2022 21:27 Argentina’s government comes under fierce criticism from the opposition after sending a diplomat to Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega’s inauguration – an event that was also attended by Iranian official Moshen Rezai, the subject of an Interpol red alert related to the 1994 AMIA terrorist bombing.
Venezuelan leader in focus Venezuela's Guaidó digs in as 'acting president' without power 05-01-2022 09:35 Juan Guaidó will remain Venezuela's "acting president" for another year – at least for the United States, the main ally of the almost powerless opposition leader.
Vote in Venezuela EU observers report irregularities in Venezuela vote 23-11-2021 14:11 An EU observer mission on Tuesday reported irregularities in Venezuelan elections for governors and mayors over the weekend, in which opposition parties participated for the first time since 2017.
Vote in Venezuela Fractures and government power blamed for Venezuela opposition defeat 23-11-2021 14:09 The disastrous results suffered by Venezuela's fractured opposition in Sunday's regional elections were largely self-inflicted, according to analysts.
Human rights ICC to probe possible Venezuela rights violations 05-11-2021 01:06 International Criminal Court to investigate whether crimes against humanity were committed during Venezuela's clampdown on anti-government protests in 2017
EX-INTEL CHIEF Spain court suspends extradition of Venezuela ex-intel chief 22-10-2021 12:59 Spain's top criminal court on Friday suspended the extradition of Venezuela's former intelligence chief, General Hugo Armando Carvajal, to the United States where he is wanted on drug-trafficking charges.
LATIN AMERICA Maduro: Venezuela and Colombia need to 'normalise' ties 21-10-2021 11:11 Nicolás Maduro calls for the normalisation of trade and diplomatic relations with Colombia, which have been non-existent since 2019 when the government refused to recognise him as Venezuela's leader.
Extradition of Alex Saab Alleged money-launderer close to Maduro defiant after extradition to US 18-10-2021 15:45 Alex Saab, a fugitive businessman accused of acting as a money-launderer for Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro's regime, says he will not collaborate with the United States, a day after his extradition from Cape Verde.
CRISIS IN VENEZUELA Venezuelan opposition urges government to resume talks after walkout 17-10-2021 21:21 Venezuela's opposition calls on President Nicolás Maduro's government to resume talks to resolve their differences, after the ruling party withdrew from the latest round over extradition of Alex Saab.
CRISIS IN VENEZUELA Venezuela rivals report more progress at political talks 28-09-2021 08:58 Venezuela's government and opposition reported further progress toward resolving their differences during a third round of talks in Mexico City that wrapped up on Monday.
Venezuelan political crisis Sanctions and elections on table at Venezuela talks 12-08-2021 14:09 Venezuela's government and opposition will restart talks in Mexico with sanctions, political prisoners and elections on the table, but not the future of President Nicolás Maduro.
ECONOMIC TURMOIL Venezuelans desperately ditching bolivars as inflation bites 10-08-2021 14:02 Venezuela announced Thursday it would knock six zeroes off its currency – the third time in 13 years it has redenominated the bolivar. Faith in physical bank notes is at an all-time low, and people want rid of them.
CRISIS IN VENEZUELA Venezuela to slash six zeroes from its currency 05-08-2021 14:25 Venezuela will slash six zeroes off its inflation-battered currency to make it easier to use, the Central Bank said on Thursday.
Crisis in Venezuela Venezuela election negotiations set to begin next week in Mexico 04-08-2021 15:02 Officials from the Venezuelan government and opposition are expected to meet next week in Mexico City to kick off negotiations aimed at ending a political stand-off ahead of regional elections in November.
Crisis in Venezuela Venezuela's Maduro says Mexico to host talks with opposition 13-07-2021 09:35 Venezuelan leader says Mexico will host talks between his government and the opposition, but insists he will only take part if international sanctions are lifted. Little comment on latest arrest of another opposition leader, Freddy Guevara.
Venezuelan Crisis Guaidó responds to Alberto Fernández: 'Human beings are disappearing in Venezuela' 11-07-2021 17:27 Venezuelan opposition leader challenges previous statements by the Argentina's president, but suggests Fernández administration "can be a bridge" in efforts to resolve the crisis.
CRISIS IN VENEZUELA Biden reaffirms support for Venezuela opposition leader Guaidó 06-07-2021 15:27 Joe Biden reaffirms US support for Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaidó, even in the midst of efforts to resume negotiations with President Nicolas Maduro's government.
CRISIS IN VENEZUELA Venezuela's Maduro blows hot and cold in bid for sanctions relief 06-07-2021 15:19 Embattled Venezuelan leader is hoping such assurances on upcoming elections will lead to a softening of the economic sanctions hanging over the country.
CRISIS IN VENEZUELA Venezuela opposition group MUD cleared to stand in election 30-06-2021 09:01 Democratic Unity Roundtable, Venezuelan opposition coalition known as MUD, has been granted permission to contest regional elections in November after a three-year ban.
CRISIS IN VENEZUELA Maduro, Guaidó and Alberto: the beginning of a new phase in Venezuela? 26-06-2021 00:33 Both sides of the Venezuelan grieta have publicly stated their intention to sit at the negotiating table. This is a massive step forward after years of deadlock. by Agustino Fontevecchia
INTERVIEW / PERIODISMO PURO Juan Guaidó: ‘We’re not depending on the good faith of a dictatorship’ 26-06-2021 00:01 Venezuela, says Juan Guaidó, remains gripped by crisis and needs a plan of national salvation. The opposition leader, recognised by more than 60 nations as the country's interim president, on the need for free and fair elections, Argentina’s diplomatic stance and the position of Pope Francis. by Jorge Fontevecchia
Crisis in Venezuela Maduro’s tightened grip forces Venezuela’s opposition to lower sights 25-06-2021 23:51 For years, the nation’s fractured opposition has been battling itself, not just authoritarian rule. Imprisoned by the dozens, disenfranchised by rigged elections and pushed into exile by Maduro, leaders also split on strategy and wrestled for prominence.