“The army’s loyalty is tested in Venezuela,”
“The political situation in Venezuela is becoming increasingly chaotic. The opposition is increasing the pressure to get Nicolás Maduro to resign as president in a country where the humanitarian crisis is becoming increasingly difficult.”
“But for this to happen it is required that the army switches side, says an expert.”
“The last few days have prostheses in Venezuela increased in intensity. The violence has increased, and the borders have been closed. It has been reported on casualties – but also about the soldiers in the regimtrogna military who have defected.”
“the Opposition leader Juan Guaidó is currently in the neighboring country of Colombia, where he was taken with the help of oppositionsvänliga soldiers. Where shall he according to their own task to participate at Monday’s meeting with the so-called Limagruppen, consisting of Canada and Latin american countries.”
“– the Situation is in a pretty critical stage. The opposition is now testing the army’s loyalty and trying to put pressure on the army to change the page, ” says Mikael Wigell, researcher at the Swedish institute of international affairs in Helsinki.”
“the Army plays a key role in the conflict. Without the support from there, it becomes very difficult for the opposition to remove president Nicolás Maduro, despite his popular support falters precariously, according to Wigell.”
” the Army is afraid of reprisals from the Court if they change the page. Why must the army be able to trust that Maduro will fall if they go over to the opposition and they then escape to be punished. It is the big question right now.”
“the Situation is particularly complex because the relationships within the army differ depending on how high up you are. Ordinary soldiers are, to a large extent in the same difficult humanitarian position as the rest of the population and are therefore more resistant to the Maduro ,says Wigell.”
“Higher up in the hierarchy, the situation is different, and there are many who have served financially to stay close to the regime, which means that their interests are different. In addition to not be brought to justice, they learn high-ranking generals also likely want assurances that the army should retain the strong position that it has in Venezuela, ” says Mikael Wigell.”
” It is positive for the army in this situation is that it has not so far been particularly involved in the violence exercised against the people. For example, it is not the army, which has been cracking down the demonstrations, without the national guard.”
“But as long as Maduro has the army’s support, he learns not likely to step down, track Wigell.”
” I would think that he is willing to take almost any means to keep them. If he falls he will be in a weak position and that is when the risk of a prosecution.”
“– Maduro has proven to be quite ruthless. He, for example, has directed its paramilitary forces to the areas, even in poor shanty towns in Caracas, as previously shown strong support for both the Chávez and Maduro, where they both have killed and captivated the people.”
“Hugo Chavez was Maduro’s representatives at the presidency. He sat from 2002 until 2013, when he died of cancer.”
“at the same time increases the pressure on the Maduroregimen for every day that goes by. According to the UN, almost three million venezuelans left the country since 2015, while around 90 per cent of the population are below the poverty line. Soon the humanitarian situation deteriorate further.”