Venezuela Chaos: Can Gold, Rosneft Prevent April Bond Default?

This suggests “internal divisions will remain a significant constraint to President Nicolas Maduro’s efforts to consolidate power,” Eurasia Group analysts Risa Grais-Targow and Agata Ciesielska write. They add: “The fissures will become more problematic in the run-up to the 2018 election, generating more erratic policies and complicating Maduro and Vice President Tareck El Aissami’s plans to lead the ticket and manipulate the playing field. While chavismo will not withdraw its support for Maduro in the short term because of the high costs of exiting government, a more active opposition and mounting international pressure increases the potential for a messy political transition as the 2018 vote approaches.” More…