‘Maduro’s government won’t collapse,’ top CIA veteran tells GSW
Venezuela’s political crisis may be far from resolved, but President Nicolás Maduro’s hold on power remains firmer than many assume, according to Rollie Flynn, a former CIA officer and now CEO of the Arkin Group.
Flynn said the durability of the government is widely underestimated.
“I think the Maduro government is more viable than people think, even though, of course, the winner of the last election was not Maduro and the winner, Machado, has just been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize,” she said.
Her remarks come as international pressure on Caracas continues. Flynn argued that assessments of Venezuela’s political future must focus on what keeps Maduro in place.
“When you look at a government, you have to look at the institutions and the sources of support that Maduro does have,” she said.
Chief among these, she noted, is the armed forces. “The military is a key. And as far as we can tell, the military still supports him,” Flynn added.
She said Maduro has maintained that loyalty through careful patronage. “And he’s, you know, like all good dictators, is very careful to make sure the military gets paid regularly.”
For now, Flynn believes those dynamics make any sudden collapse unlikely. While the opposition and much of the international community insist political change is necessary, the pillars of state power appear to remain aligned behind Maduro — at least for the moment.
Watch the full interview:
This story is written and edited by the Global South World team, you can contact us here.
