Maduro’s Ultimatum: Domination or Destruction

Venezuela’s Nicolas Maduro in a not so thinly veiled threat has announced that should his party not succeed at the July 28 polls, the country could “fall into a bloodbath” or “into a fratricidal civil war”. This was announced to supporters during a recent campaign event in Caracas.

Maduro at Rally - Getty Images

 Many could also interpret this as the dog whistle on the plan come July 29. Political pundits earlier this year predicted that Nicolas Maduro would use any means necessary to retain his grasp on power in Venezuela so a threat of this kind should not be a surprise to those who have been monitoring the situation in the Spanish speaking country. According to international news agencies, Maduro declared that only a win for his party would ensure peace in the country. He also added that he expects “irreversible results” in his favor.

Maduro supporters - PBS

Venezuela’s President made these remarks despite having strong and unified opposition challenger for the first time in years. In fact, Maduro’s government has gone after many opposition supporters and campaign workers in the lead up to the election, detaining them for several hours or longer. These arrests along with the ban placed on duly elected opposition contender Maria Corina Machado have only served to cement the belief that Maduro and his camp are not so confident in their party’s return to office. Meanwhile, Brazil’s President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has urged Venezuela's government to respect the result of next Sunday’s polls.

Brazil President - Reuters Photo

President Lula has been quoted as saying he was "scared" by incumbent president Nicolas Maduro's threat of a bloodbath if he loses. Mr Lula says he has told President Maduro that “the only chance for Venezuela to return to normality is to have a widely respected electoral process.” He adds that the Venezuelan leader “needs to learn that when you win, you stay; when you lose, you leave.”

Nicolas Maduro has been president of Venezuela since the death of Hugo Chavez in 2013.