Military Power Expands During Venezuelan Crisis

Over the course of the summer, Venezuela’s economy has continued to deteriorate and caused inflation to skyrocket, output levels to decline, and grocery store shelves to lack basic necessities. In the wake of an economic and humanitarian crisis that triggered a widespread state of emergency, the Venezuelan government has turned to the military, broadening its role in policy decisions and resulting in its amassment of power. With the decline in crude oil prices worldwide, Venezuela, a founding member of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries, suffered from extensive macroeconomic imbalances. Consequently, rising prices, along with continuous blackouts, have limited the supply of exportable material. Critics of the government, especially the Democratic Unity Roundtable, an alliance of Venezuelan opposition parties, have argued that failures in socialist policies, fund mismanagement, and corruption have catalyzed the economy’s deterioration.

In an attempt to restore order despite the spiraling conditions, President Nicolás Maduro mandated the expansion of military power within the state. Maduro named the Minister of Defense, Vladimir Padrino Lopez, as a new economic deputy, according to El Espectador. To combat violence and ensure order, together they seek the normalization of supply by bringing basic shortages of food and toiletries to an end.

Lopez’ promotion allows military prerogative to extend beyond mere discussions of defense and security by offering the army legislative power. Under the mandate, a newly formed military council is capable of passing resolutions on the purchase, marketing, and distribution of food, medicines, and hygiene products. This newfound economic operational capacity legitimizes Venezuela’s armed forces as a policy-enacting body.

Responding to President Maduro’s military mandate, many opponents have emerged denouncing the action, fearing the entanglement of the military in nondefense affairs. According to analyst and El Tiempo columnist Luis Vicente León, Maduro’s actions further complicate and worsen the problem by ignoring the failures of past policies. León explains, “If they assume that the cause of the crisis is the economic war and not the primitive model of intervention and control, everything will be useless.”

Consequently, the question for the Venezuelan government is twofold. Not only must the government resolve the crisis in the long term, but it must also ease the burdens and suffering imposed on the people. In an effort to assuage Venezuela’s population, the Venezuelan and Colombian governments arrived at a provisional agreement to reopen the border between the two nations, enabling Venezuelans to purchase basic goods. However, this strategy alone has proven to be insufficient.

Unfortunately, projections for the future are bleak and reflect the continued deterioration of the state economy. With Venezuelan output contractions reaching approximately ten percent and inflation rates expected to double by 2017, according to the International Monetary Fund, the future remains unclear. Now, it is essential to find the balance between short and long term policies with the increased presence of military influence and regulation.