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Por primera vez desde 1999, el régimen socialista revolucionario de Venezuela tiene ante sí un Parlamento dominado por la oposición. Sin embargo, en vez de buscar alguna forma de cohabitación con sus adversarios políticos, el Gobierno ha escogido la vía del enfrentamiento directo, que hace que vuelva a asomar la perspectiva de grave violencia política en este país de 30 millones de habitantes.

After a crushing defeat in parliamentary elections, Venezuela’s Chavista government needs to move away from confrontation. The executive must join the new legislative majority in a cooperation pact that can lead the country from deadlock to open democracy, and save it from a looming economic and humanitarian disaster.​

Venezuela’s opposition Democratic Unity coalition (MUD) won more than twice as many National Assembly seats as the Socialists in 6 December elections to the country’s parliament, a huge reversal for President Nicolás Maduro, heir of the late President Hugo Chávez.

There is a lot at stake in the 6th December parliamentary election in Venezuela. Amid serious economic and social problems, the electorate faces a clear choice between continuity and change.

In this Q&A, Crisis Group’s Senior Venezuela Analyst Phil Gunson explains the ins and outs of this decisive poll and the likely political scenarios after 6 December.