Venezuela's Maduro Stays in Power Using “Colectivo” Gangs to Attack Press, Opposition

"Colectivos" help explain why Maduro is staying on in power, in spite of having more than 80% of the country against him. Chavismo is not staying in power on popularity alone, but thanks to a combination of force and manipulation, explains Luis Vicente Leon, who spoke to journalists at the same event, also on Wednesday. Perhaps chavismo can’t survive an election because it’s in the minority, says Leon, but that’s the wrong way to see it. “There were battles in the Venezuelan Independence Wars in which Spaniards outnumbered Venezuelans seven to one, and we still won,” the analyst said. More...