Venezuela: Amid Opposition, the President Buys Some Time

It is only a matter of time until Venezuela holds a referendum to recall President Nicolas Maduro, so his administration is buying all the time it can. His ruling United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV) continues to stall the vote in hopes of avoiding a new presidential election in the event of Maduro's ouster, much to the chagrin of the political opposition, which has little recourse to prevent it. But that will not stop the Democratic Unity Roundtable (MUD) coalition from staging several demonstrations in Caracas on Sept. 1 to try to compel the government to hold the referendum in 2016. Though realizing that goal is a long shot, the protests offer the opposition a venue to raise its political profile and bring attention to the rampant discontent in Venezuela. And in light of the tension pervading the country, the demonstrations merit close attention....