Venezuela’s acting president, Delcy Rodríguez, is facing her worst crisis yet after two catastrophic earthquakes hit the country on June 24. The earthquakes have left more than 3,000 dead and over 16,000 injured, with many more displaced.

Government Response

The government’s response to the disaster has been criticized as slow and inadequate. Many citizens believe the authorities have failed to address the tragedy effectively, a criticism Rodríguez firmly rejects. Analysts argue that the earthquakes have exposed the weakness of the state and the limits of its power to respond to the disaster.

Despite the challenges, Rodríguez has denied that the authorities acted slowly, stating that 4,000 personnel were deployed within the first 24 hours, with that number quickly rising to 19,000, supported by international rescue teams. The United States has played a supervisory role in Venezuela, and its actions will be decisive in the outcome of the crisis.

Political Implications

The earthquakes have become a defining test for the interim government, exposing its political vulnerability. Analysts suggest that Rodríguez could use emergency regulations to centralize her authority, tighten security, and postpone political reforms in the name of stability and reconstruction. The disaster has given the government more room to hold on to power rather than being forced to relinquish it.

The opposition’s dilemma is exemplified by one of its most prominent leaders, Nobel Peace laureate María Corina Machado, who has tried to enter Venezuela to participate in relief efforts but has been prevented from doing so by the government. The United States does not appear to support Machado’s intended return to Venezuela, with a State Department spokesperson stating that introducing sensitive political issues at this moment would be counterproductive to their efforts to respond to the tragedy.

Original reporting: KTVZ (Central Oregon) — read the source article.