Beware of a ‘self-coup’ before Venezuelan elections

As Venezuela gets closer to its Dec. 6 legislative elections with the opposition coalition leading by a comfortable margin in all major polls, there are growing fears that the government will take advantage of a climate of chaos — and perhaps even create it — in order to suspend the elections. Hardly a day goes by without new statements or actions by President Nicolás Maduro — such as his closing of the border with Colombia this week — that fuel speculation that he may be seeking to create a climate of chaos to stage a “self-coup’’ and suspend the vote, well-placed Venezuelan opposition sources tell me. More…