Venezuela Needs Civilian Government Constrained By Law, Says Harvard's Ricardo Hausmann

Ricardo Hausmann, Professor of the Practice of International Political Economy at Harvard Kennedy School, discusses why foreign control and oil exploitation cannot replace democratic legitimacy for Venezuela.

Venezuela’s government is reasserting itself after the capture of Nicolás Maduro, swearing in Delcy Rodríguez as acting president and flashing warning signs that a new wave of repression has begun.

As the government continued to churn inside the presidential palace Miraflores, Venezuela’s military counterintelligence officials have been patrolling the streets of Caracas, according to at least two witnesses. At least seven journalists and members of the press were detained on Monday morning and early afternoon, most of them at the National Assembly and its surroundings, according to the national press workers syndicate.

Heavily armed security forces and pro-government motorcycle gangs known as colectivos were seen roaming the capital, at times stopping drivers and checking their phones. While they aren’t as influential as they were at the height of Maduro’s power, the State Department has said they have been responsible for killings during protests.

Venezuela’s information ministry didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.

“The presence of colectivos on the streets is clearly intended to reinforce the government’s internal repression scheme and prevent popular mobilizations through fear,” said Andrei Serbin Pont, president of the Buenos Aires-based research group CRIES, who closely monitors Venezuela’s security forces. There are also military checkpoints, through which “the government is trying to obstruct drone reconnaissance activities that it believes the US is conducting.”

Later Monday evening a series of apparent blasts was heard near the presidential palace, rattling residents. A government official told reporters that security forces fired warning shots at drones flying over the area without permission.

What’s happening on the ground in Caracas doesn’t quite match the calls for peace Rodríguez made during her swearing-in ceremony on Monday.

“For the people of Venezuela, I swear not to rest for a single minute to guarantee peace and the spiritual, economic, and social well-being of our people, and to ensure a government that provides social welfare, political stability, and security,” she said.

At last for now, she has the backing of both the Chavismo strongholds in her government and US President Donald Trump, who has said she would work with Washington to “make Venezuela great again.” She also struck a conciliatory tone on Sunday, asking the US to work with her country on a cooperation agenda.

Her biggest public endorsement from within Venezuela came from Nicolás Maduro’s own son, who said he would “unconditionally support” her and echoed her call for foreign investment based on respect. He said he’d had indirect communication with his father.

“To you, Delcy, my unconditional support. Count on me and my family,” Maduro Guerra said, while tearfully describing what he called difficult hours for his family. He spoke during the installation of Venezuela’s National Assembly in Caracas on Monday.

Her installation comes just days after Maduro was seized by US forces and flown to New York, a move that plunged the oil-rich country into political uncertainty and intensified scrutiny of Washington’s intentions.

Maduro Guerra, 34, has served in the National Assembly since 2021 and was sworn in for a new legislative term on Monday. Often referred to as “Nicolasito,” he is Maduro’s only son and is frequently seen alongside him at political rallies and public events. The ruling party has promoted him as part of a younger generation of leaders where he has largely focused on religious affairs.Jorge Rodríguez, Delcy’s brother, was reinstated as head of the assembly for a sixth consecutive annual term. While the parliamentary session was under way, Maduro supporters took to the streets for a second consecutive day to protest his capture. The only absent lawmaker among the 285 elected last year was Maduro’s wife, Cilia Flores, who was also taken by US forces.

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