Month dominated by long-postponed elections for state governors 15 Oct, which under constitution should have been held Dec 2016. Govt continued to insist that participation as candidates in state governor elections amounted to recognising Constituent Assembly (ANC)’s legitimacy and authority to swear in elected candidates; opposition Democratic Unity alliance (MUD) rejected terms but persisted with taking part in elections, amid predictions that its candidates could win in as many as eighteen out of 23 states, compared with three seats held before election. Electoral authority (CNE) 15 Oct announced landslide victory for govt candidates: eighteen states, including key opposition stronghold Miranda, went to govt, five won by opposition (including four by Acción Democrática (AD)). MUD rejected results, called for complete nationwide audit of election process with independent, international verification. U.S., Canada, EU and twelve-country Lima Group formed to press for restoration of democracy echoed calls; govt said it would only publish vote tallies. During campaign, govt hampered opposition efforts to mobilise supporters and ensure effective vote by keeping names of MUD candidates who pulled out after losing in primaries on ballot to confuse voters, and reassigned over 700,000 voters from opposition strongholds to alternative polling stations. In south-eastern Bolívar state, announcement of results was delayed amid three consecutive days of street protests; after authorities declared govt candidate winner, MUD produced paper vote tallies contradicting official count. AD governors agreed to be sworn in before ANC, whereupon party leader Henry Ramos said they had “excluded themselves” from party. Juan Pablo Guanipa of Primero Justicia, winner in Zulia state, refused; govt called fresh election in Zulia. MUD’s participation in elections, and governors’ swearing-in, fomented further division within opposition ranks, as vocal minority accused MUD leadership of treachery. Govt called delayed municipal elections for Dec, provoking opposition debate over whether to take part.

President of opposition-led National Assembly (AN) Julio Borges, visiting Europe early Sept, met with French, German, Spanish and UK leaders, all of whom expressed their support and condemned undemocratic behaviour by President Maduro’s govt. VP Jorge Arreaza also visited Europe 11-13 Sept, spoke at UN Human Rights Council in Geneva and met with French and Spanish foreign ministers: defended govt’s rights record and dismissed UN human rights chief Zeid Ra‘ad al Hussein’s statement that crimes against humanity may have been committed in Venezuela. Reports of new govt-opposition dialogue in Dominican Republic, previously confidential, brought further recriminations within opposition Democratic Unity alliance (MUD). Govt demands in talks included AN approval for issuance of fresh international debt and recognition of Constituent Assembly; MUD demands included restoration of AN powers, electoral calendar, “humanitarian corridor”, replacement of govt supporters on Supreme Court and electoral authority (CNE), and commitment not to ban opposition candidates in gubernatorial elections. Sides agreed to formation of group of six guarantor countries, but agreement to re-convene 27 Sept suspended after MUD said conditions not met. MUD 10 Sept held primaries in nineteen of 23 states to determine opposition candidates in 15 Oct gubernatorial elections, amid signs its internal unity is fraying. Acción Democrática won in ten states, giving it twelve candidacies; several contests, including in Zulia and Aragua states, ended with disputes over result. Govt’s international isolation continues to deepen, with EU actively considering individual sanctions on its leaders, and Canada imposing sanctions on senior govt figures; U.S. imposed travel ban on Venezuelan govt officials and their families, citing govt’s lack of cooperation on vetting security threats posed by its citizens. Organization of American States Secretary General Luis Almagro organised hearings on Venezuela’s rights situation in Washington DC beginning 14 Sept and issued fourth report on Venezuela.

National Assembly (AN) 18 Aug refused to subordinate itself to newly-installed Constituent Assembly (ANC), which decreed that it had consequently assumed all powers of AN, effectively dissolving legislature. Govt 16 Aug installed ANC’s so-called Truth Commission, tasked inter alia with investigating opposition leaders for alleged participation in anti-govt violence. ANC member Diosdado Cabello said any opposition candidate for elected office would first have to obtain “good conduct” certificate from ANC; ANC 30 Aug voted to try opposition leaders for treason. ANC 5 Aug moved to dismiss attorney general Luisa Ortega Díaz and replace her with govt loyalist Tarek W. Saab. Intelligence service 16 Aug raided Ortega’s home and authorities issued warrant for arrest of her husband; couple fled to Colombia, Ortega later said she had evidence Maduro and other govt leaders involved in corruption. Opposition split over whether to participate in delayed Dec 2017 elections for state governor: over 30 opposition politicians announced candidacy; Vente Venezuela party leader María Corina Machado withdrew from opposition Democratic Unity alliance (MUD) over issue, saying to participate was to legitimise dictatorship. Electoral authority 12 Aug brought forward election date to Oct. Armed group led by former soldiers 6 Aug briefly took over barracks in major military base in Valencia, west of Caracas: three people killed. Attack coincided with social media publication of video showing former National Guard officer Juan Carlos Caguaripano with armed soldiers announcing rebellion against Maduro’s “murderous tyranny”; Caguaripano and another leader captured by police 11 Aug, intelligence chief said eighteen people in custody. Seventeen regional foreign ministers and representatives discussed crisis 8 Aug in Lima, Peru: twelve later signed declaration condemning “breakdown of the democratic order”, said they would not recognise ANC actions. U.S. did not take part; President Trump 11 Aug told reporters he did not rule out “military option” to restore democracy; Lima group and many regional govts rejected idea. U.S. 25 Aug introduced new sanctions restricting access for Venezuelan govt and state oil company to U.S. debt markets; said no plans to take military action “in near future”.

Despite intensifying domestic opposition and international pressure, President Maduro’s govt pushed ahead with 30 July election for constituent assembly with power to dissolve state institutions (including opposition-led parliament and attorney general’s office) and rewrite constitution, prompting fears of more severe and widespread violence and economic collapse. Turnout in constituent assembly vote disputed, as govt claimed over 8 million (41.4%) took part against opposition estimate of under a third of that number. Opposition reported over a dozen protesters killed on day of vote, attorney general said ten. Earlier in month, opposition claimed over 7.5 million people participated in 16 July opposition Democratic Unity alliance (MUD)-organised unofficial vote on assembly plan: 98% rejected assembly election, similar percentages backed call for armed forces to respect constitution and for opposition to appoint new Supreme Court judges and new electoral authority and form “national unity govt”. Govt tried to hinder vote; pro-govt gunmen shot dead one woman waiting to vote, wounded three. MUD 18 July announced appointment of new Supreme Court justices – three were subsequently arrested and threatened with jail, with their bank accounts frozen – and outlined future “national unity govt” with primaries to select presidential candidate. Opposition radicals rejected MUD’s plan as not tough enough; so-called “Resistance” 18 July erected barricades in Caracas and other cities, many said they did not recognise authority of MUD and rejected any negotiations with govt as “treachery”. MUD organised 24-hour general strike 20 July and 48-hour strike 26-27 July in which three people were killed. Govt 27 July banned protests until 1 Aug; MUD defied ban, but protests were broken up. Amid growing international pressure on Maduro govt, U.S. 26 July imposed new sanctions on thirteen senior officials and said any member of new constituent assembly faced possible sanctions; threatened broader, financial and economic sanctions if vote went ahead and 31 July imposed sanctions on Maduro. Country’s most prominent political prisoner, Leopoldo López, unexpectedly granted house arrest 8 July after over three years’ military prison, but re-arrested together with Antonio Ledezma 1 Aug. In talks involving former Spanish premier Rodríguez Zapatero 23-24 July, govt reportedly offered to suspend temporarily vote for constituent assembly, and hold regional (2017) and presidential (2018) elections; MUD turned down offer, demanding assembly plan be dropped altogether.

Opposition maintained refusal to take part in 30 July election for controversial constituent assembly (ANC), said it will continue street demonstrations until govt abandons plan and negotiates in good faith return to democracy; warned of worsening protests if election goes ahead. President Maduro warned that people attempting to disrupt voting will be dealt with severely. Death toll from street protests continued to rise, surpassing 80 by late-June: security forces reportedly employing increasingly repressive tactics, with reports of detainees being tortured, security forces and civilian gunmen conducting searches without warrants, destroying property, making arbitrary arrests. Opposition-dominated parliament proceeded with appointment of Supreme Court (TSJ) justices to replace those it considers illegitimate, and drafting legal framework for transition to democracy, including transitional justice scheme. Dissident voices on govt side continue to emerge; Gen. Alexis López, secretary of National Defence Council, stepped down early June citing opposition to ANC. Attorney General (AG) Luisa Ortega continued to challenge govt, presenting prosecutors’ conclusions regarding deaths of demonstrators that contradict government versions, challenging both president’s proposed ANC election for and legitimacy of so-called “express justices” appointed to TSJ. TSJ 7 and 14 June rejected her petitions on these issues, 20 June said it had approved request to lift her immunity from prosecution for alleged “serious errors”; 29 June banned her from leaving country and froze her assets. Govt continued to insist it will contemplate “dialogue” only within framework of its bid to completely restructure state, close down parliament and remove AG. Organization of American States (OAS) failed to reach consensus on Venezuela at OAS General Assembly 19-21 June. MPs besieged in parliament for five hours 27 June by govt supporters; followed clashes between MPs and National Guard contingent supposed to protect them, prompted by introduction by Guards of election material into parliament building. Simultaneously, alleged “coup attempt” occurred involving theft of police helicopter from which grenades were reportedly hurled at TSJ building; ex-police inspector Oscar Pérez claimed responsibility in videos calling on army, police to act against govt; opposition accused govt of being behind incident.

Clashes continued across country between largely peaceful opposition protesters and security forces often backed by civilian gunmen; since they began early April, at least 57 people, including a dozen teenagers, reported killed, thousands injured and over 2,800 arrested, 338 of them arraigned before military tribunals in violation of constitution and international treaties; lawyers, family members and detainees alleged routine torture. Attorney General Luisa Ortega 24 May criticised excessive use of force and military tribunals, accused National Guard of killing one demonstrator with tear gas canister, contradicting govt claims. Severe looting reported in many places, particularly Barinas, Valencia and Los Teques/San Antonio de los Altos near Caracas, amid worsening shortages of food, medicines and other basic goods; food suppliers in country’s west refusing to supply centre-north and capital due to security concerns. Maduro 1 May announced he was convening assembly to reform constitution, but voting (set for July) will be partly “sectoral”, with unions, peasants’ and women’s organisations and others electing their own representatives, remaining members elected at municipal level. Opposition rejected invitation to discuss initiative, saying president was attempting to rig election; many constitutional experts argue that constituent assembly can only be convened by referendum, proposed voting system is unconstitutional; attorney general and two Supreme Court judges also criticised plan. If elected, constituent assembly is sovereign and can overrule or even abolish all other powers, including National Assembly, currently dominated by MUD, and state governors, whose delayed election is now set for Dec. Permanent Council of Organization of American States met to discuss crisis 31 May, no agreement reached. At U.S. request, UN Security Council held informal, closed-door meeting 17 May to discuss Venezuelan crisis; Uruguayan chair said no further action warranted. U.S. 18 May imposed sanctions on eight Venezuelan Supreme Court justices for their role in limiting powers of National Assembly.

Almost thirty people killed during month as security forces cracked down on growing anti-govt protests in capital and elsewhere, amid continuing deterioration in living conditions. Supreme Court (TSJ) 1 April reversed its 29 March decision to assume legislative power of National Assembly following condemnation from neighbouring countries and declaration by attorney general Luisa Ortega Díaz, former govt loyalist, that constitutional rule had been interrupted; Ortega’s stance marked unprecedented crack in regime unity. Despite measure’s reversal, nineteen Organization of American States (OAS) members voted 3 April for resolution declaring TSJ’s actions violation of constitutional order and urging Venezuela to restore democracy and separation of powers, and committing OAS to continue monitoring situation and seeking diplomatic solution. Comptroller general 9 April banned key opposition leader, Miranda state Governor and former presidential candidate Henrique Capriles, from holding office for fifteen years. Opposition Democratic Unity alliance (MUD) began series of mass rallies in capital and elsewhere, demanding dismissal of TSJ justices and holding of elections; some spontaneous protests also broke out, including 12 April in San Félix, Bolívar state, where crowd hurled objects at Maduro as he took part in commemorative act in street. Govt continued to react to demonstrations with force, using National Guard and police to disperse them with tear gas, water-cannon and plastic bullets, often fired at close range; also deployed were armed civilian para-police groups (colectivos) on motorcycles. MUD 19 April staged “mother of all marches”, calling hundreds of thousands onto streets of Caracas and provincial cities; 28 people reportedly killed in protests by end-month, reportedly mostly at hands of police and govt supporters, hundreds detained. Among the dead, at least eleven people reported killed 20 April in looting in Caracas as govt grip on poor barrios appeared to weaken. Maduro 23 April called for talks with opposition to resume; however, MUD declined to meet with international facilitator Leonel Fernández after he met with Maduro 24 April. OAS Permanent Council 26 April agreed to convene extraordinary meeting of foreign ministers to discuss Venezuela; in response, Venezuela announced moves to withdraw from OAS. Govt paid out almost $3bn to service foreign debt during month as imports continued to shrink, must pay around $800m more in May.

Opposition accused pro-govt Supreme Court (TSJ) of imposing dictatorship after TSJ 29 March assumed legislative powers of opposition-controlled National Assembly (AN), raising fears of violent confrontation within Venezuela and defying calls by neighbouring countries to resolve political crisis through democratic means. TSJ’s ruling claimed AN in contempt of court for failing to suspend three MPs accused of electoral fraud; stripped deputies of immunity from prosecution. Regional powers strongly condemned move, several recalled ambassadors (Peru “definitively”) and U.S. criticised “rupture of democratic and constitutional norms” and “serious setback for democracy”. Move followed Organization of American States (OAS) Sec Gen Luis Almagro’s 14 March report calling for OAS to apply Inter-American Democratic Charter and suspend country’s membership if it fails to hold prompt elections, release political prisoners, restore autonomy of TSJ and electoral commission, and lift restrictions on AN. 14 March report said Venezuela in breach of every article of Democratic Charter, rule of law ceased to exist and humanitarian crisis on scale “unprecedented for the western hemisphere”. OAS Permanent Council had met 28 March in acrimonious session which ended without resolution; Venezuela’s attempt to block session backed by ten countries, including Bolivia and Nicaragua. After TSJ move Almagro called for emergency Council meeting 3 April. Mercosur also to meet in emergency session. But in response to 31 March declaration by Venezuelan Attorney General Luisa Ortega that “constitutional order” had broken down, govt convened National Security Council and “exhorted” TSJ to correct decision. Govt continued with controversial TSJ-ordered “re-legitimisation” of political parties; so far, four important opposition parties have apparently met conditions. Tensions also increased with Colombia, which 23 March called “unacceptable” incursion of some 70 Venezuelan soldiers, reportedly combatting criminal acts near border, into Colombian territory; Venezuela blamed change in path of river, withdrew troops. Faced with shortages of bread due to lack of flour, Maduro mid-March decreed any bakery not using 90% of its flour for bread would be taken over. Reports emerged of motor fuel shortages 22 March. Maduro 24 March said he had asked UN for help normalising supply and distribution of medicines.

After rejecting 21 Jan proposal by Vatican-sponsored dialogue facilitators to relaunch talks as plan for “democratic coexistence”, opposition MUD alliance 10 Feb reiterated that return to talks only possible if govt fulfilled its first round commitments; govt reiterated its commitment to dialogue. National Assembly President Julio Borges 10 Feb said MUD had declined proposal by Pope for two sides to meet at Vatican late Jan; papal nuncio said no formal request to reopen talks had been made. OAS Sec Gen Luis Almagro 8 Feb said OAS Permanent Council would not take further action until dialogue was declared over. Contacts continued behind scenes: MUD 10 Feb presented more detailed proposal for renewing talks; facilitators returned to Caracas mid-Feb but without apparently producing any breakthrough. Elections for state governors, due Dec 2016, on hold indefinitely, despite Oct 2016 promise by electoral authority (CNE) President Tibisay Lucena that they would be held mid-2017: CNE board member Tania D’Amelio 10 Feb said elections could not take place until political parties renewed their legal registration, as demanded by Supreme Court (TSJ). CNE 7 Feb required 59 of country’s 62 political parties to re-register by gathering signatures of 5% of voters in at least twelve states within fourteen hours using 390 fingerprint machines provided by CNE, to begin 4 March; many parties complained conditions impossible to fulfil. Ruling PSUV and MUD not required to re-register, however MUD facing possible ban over case before TSJ alleging it committed fraud in 2016 recall referendum process. MUD 17 Feb announced long-awaited internal restructuring, including expansion of its executive from four to nine parties, creating civil society consultative body. U.S. Treasury 13 Feb announced it was blacklisting VP Aissami as alleged drugs “kingpin”; govt condemned move as politically motivated persecution.

President Maduro’s appointment of Aragua state governor and former Interior Minister Tareck el Aissami as new VP 4 Jan seen as further step away from dialogue with opposition and toward confrontation. Aissami, replacing relative moderate Aristóbulo Istúriz, has been accused of ties with drug-traffickers and Middle Eastern extremists. Maduro charged Aissami with heading newly-created “Anti-Coup Command”; Aissami deployed intelligence service SEBIN to arrest several opposition politicians, including MP Gilber Caro, accused of plotting acts of terrorism. Aissami declared Voluntad Popular party “unconstitutional”, described its leaders as criminals and terrorists. Conflict of powers between executive and legislature worsened. Opposition-led National Assembly (AN) 9 Jan approved motion declaring Maduro had “abandoned his post” in constitutional terms by failing to address country’s multiple problems, no longer legitimate president. Govt-controlled supreme court (TSJ) 15 Jan reaffirmed AN was “in contempt” of its rulings and had violated its own internal rules, hence all actions null and void – including motion against president and 5 Jan election of its chairman and other officers. TSJ 9 Jan ordered that outgoing chairman Henry Ramos Allup (Acción Democrática) be reinstated while alleged contempt persists; legislature refused. TSJ also authorised Maduro to give his annual address not to parliament but to TSJ 15 Jan; during address Maduro said AN had “dissolved itself”. Talks between govt and opposition did not resume. MUD’s internal divisions appeared to worsen, with calls for alliance to be restructured and for Jesus “Chuo” Torrealba to step down as Sec Gen. Nuevo Tiempo party (UNT) led by Manuel Rosales and Avanzada Progresista continue to insist on dialogue. Rosales’ 31 Dec release from house arrest widely perceived in opposition as reward to UNT for promoting dialogue; following 12 July rally Rosales was congratulated in public by Maduro.