A special report in the Associated Press has argued for a Cuban taught Venezuelan repression, coining the term “Cubazuela”. There was an interesting post on the report at Democracy Digest

The Trump administration is engaged in secret negotiations with Diosdado Cabello, the head of Venezuela’s socialist party, The Associated Press reported Monday, as members of President Nicolás Maduro’s administration seek guarantees of not being prosecuted if they remove the embattled leader. Cabello is considered the second most powerful man in Venezuela after Maduro, The Hill reports.

‘Scorpions in a bottle’

Mr Cabello is believed to want to lead Chavista forces in any future elections, which poses problems for a US administration that has publicly denounced him as a drug trafficker, a money launderer and an embezzler, The FT adds:

Instead, Washington is hoping that Mr Maduro’s government will crumble amid internal divisions. John Bolton, Mr Trump’s national security adviser, has compared the key figures in the regime to “scorpions in a bottle, staring each other down, waiting to see who stings first”. But after so many false dawns for opposition hopes in Venezuela, observers are cautious.

“It could be hyperactive paralysis,” said Nicholas Watson, who leads Latin America political risk coverage for consultancy firm Teneo. “Lots of parts moving but nothing is actually happening.”

See full story here.