The latest showdown between Venezuela’s illegitimate regime and its opposition may be the first real breakthrough for democracy there in 20 years. Since the country began its post-Chavez decline in 2013, there have been many moments when onlookers suggested that the regime was going to collapse. Instead, what we witnessed was the collapse of a nation in slow motion, at the hands of a narco-kleptocracy.
This time feels different. A new leader has emerged from a loose coalition of parties that has struggled for years to challenge the regime. In the last month, Juan Guaido, an acolyte of opposition figure Leopoldo Lopez and former student leader, has risen as president of the National Assembly to declare himself the president of the Republic.
Approximately 12 countries have now recognized the legitimacy of Guaido, with the United States leading the charge to throw its support to the 35-year-old on Jan. 23. Guaido’s clear constitutional claim to power, along with a willingness to take on the disaster he will inherit, has finally given our government an option beyond sitting on its hands.
By throwing its support behind Guaido, the United States has carved out a role for itself to be a lead architect in Venezuela’s reconstruction. This is a chance to show the region and the world that we stand by the moral imperatives our democracy requires. It is also the critical action we must take to be on the right side of history. Our State Department has the talent and ability to build and lead the coalition of countries who will participate in Venezuela’s rebuilding, and dedicated members of Congress such as Sens. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., and Dick Durbin, D-Ill., have the ability to bring both sides of the aisle together to support this important work.
More important than America’s potential role in Venezuela is Guaido himself. So far, he is doing the right things. He has given a key Venezuelan stakeholder, the military, an option beyond the Maduro regime. According to reports following his brief government detention, Guaido secured his release by discussing his plans for amnesty for members of the military who joined the opposition. This may be the best chance the country has for stripping the regime of its power. Hopefully, this will lead to a negotiated transfer of power and avoid a civil war.
This best case scenario is by no means a tidy one. Venezuelan society is now a shambles, and the wounds inflicted by Chavismo are deep. But there is an upside. While deprived of even the most basic goods over the last two years, Venezuelans have proven resourceful and capable, turning to opportunities such as direct selling to provide for their communities and families and developing roadside rescue apps to protect stranded citizens. Emerging from the political crisis, the focus will shift to Venezuela’s economic reform, which I have no doubt will spur the industriousness of those who have survived its collapse.
Venezuela’s economic potential is untapped. Most of the international energy companies left years ago, but an opening to market forces will all but guarantee their return. Tourism under Chavismo was, in the best of times, complicated, but I know I’m not alone in hoping to return to Los Roques one day. Rum aficionados? There’s a reason Town and Country has two Venezuelan bottles on its top 16 list.
As a former official at the U.S. Embassy in Caracas, I finally feel hope for the country I once called home, and I am proud of the decisive position our government has taken. There is no doubt that Venezuela will require years of economic and social rebuilding, but this week marks the beginning of the end to its suffering. Investing in its potential will mark the beginning of its future.
Lindsay Singleton is senior vice president at ROKK Solutions, where she leads policy consulting and communications strategy efforts. She lived and worked in Latin America for over a decade on behalf of the United States government and private sector and served as a foreign service officer in Venezuela from 2010-2013.
