Today there were protests by Venezuelan students in front of the Cuban Embassy in Caracas. The National Guard decided to repress and seven students were jailed (later freed). Some students went to where the others were being held, while twenty six of them chained themselves in front of the Cuban Embassy, where there is a sot of Mexican stand off at this time.
Meanwhile, the Government no longer knows how to explain the devaluation. Maduro says that it is a speculative attack by the private sector, in a country with draconian foreign exchange controls. Jaua says that the “people” were not benefiting from the “cheap” dollars. Giordani says that they have screwed up all along, that SITME was “genetically perverted”, that Venezuelans have a “dollarized nymphomania” and he knows all about the tricks to get CADIVI dollars illegal but has done nothing about it. Merentes gives Globovision a rambling non-sensical interview. (As a former scientist, I loved (cringed?) at his statement that scientists never rule out anything. Really Nelson?)
Meanwhile, Jaua cancels his visit to Peru to go to Cuba in the middle of rumors that Chavez is back in intensive care, while Marquina (@Marquina04) says “La razón de la falla respiratoria es sin duda las metástasis a nivel pulmonar e invasión del drenaje linfático” (The reason for the respiratory failure is without any doubt the metastasis at the lung level and invasion of the lymphatic fluid”
A normal day elsewhere in Venezuela. Historian Napoleon Pisani, a fellow blogger, was killed in a robbery at a museum, while a former national water polo champion was killed in a robbery.
Something seems to be reaching boiling point in Caracas.
The Devil's Excrement 
January 20, 2014 at 5:05 pm
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February 16, 2013 at 7:21 am
Meanwhile all over the world… students are beaten by riot police for protesting austerity measures
February 15, 2013 at 5:52 pm
Where are the PSF’s?
February 15, 2013 at 4:04 pm
I agree, the devaluation I think is connected to that, the ipact will not be felt in one month. The same with these pics, seems to me like getting ready to say he will step down. Agree completely.
February 15, 2013 at 4:02 pm
As I wrote in Caracas chronicles, I bet he is about to resign. The pictures, the Arreaza interview is to give credibility. Jaua probably brings the document. It looks like the typical maneuver, remember as he came back from Cuba last time? Only to announce he had to undergo surgery. But it was all smiles and nice words at the airport. By the way, today was the last day for new Registro Electoral inscriptions…
February 15, 2013 at 3:15 pm
Nobody is running the show. In the meantime Chavez MUST know that he won’t be back. Still he doesn’t resign even when it seems that having elections as soon as possible is the best course of action. He is either delusional or probably understands he is the only thing holding Chavismo together. I don’t think that he has been able to ensure that with him out of the picture things will be ok.
February 15, 2013 at 3:53 pm
I think that Chavez wants to return to Venezuela, even if it is to die there. I also think that he has to realize that the spectacle of Cuba running the show is detrimental to whatever chances Chavismo has to survive him.
Whether Cuba wants to let him return is another story: if they do, how do they safeguard their influence? Without Chavez, there is likely to be a free for all between Cabello, Maduro and others.
So the preferred solution for Cuba and Chavez is that Maduro be clearly in charge, but that doesn’t look like it, and with students protesting, things are getting very complicated for Chavismo and perhaps more hopeful for Venezuela.
February 15, 2013 at 4:13 pm
I am fairly certain he will come back to die here. I am not very optimistic about what his death will mean for the country. If he resigns then it means that something has been arranged. It may be an unstable arrangement but there would be some stability. If he dies without resigning or if this is left until the very last minute, I believe it means that things are not under control. Unfortunately government is Chavismo and a splintered Chavismo means a splintered government. Under the circumstances, I think this means the situation could become uncertain and volatile.
February 15, 2013 at 12:11 pm
I think your reading is on the spot. There is no leader, Maduro looks clueless and devoted to politics and everyone wants to be President.
February 15, 2013 at 12:07 pm
Two things.
At least someone is protesting! Bravo for the students, who chose to protest.
Maduro saying this, Jaua saying that, Giordani saying that… In my mind this only shows that right now no one is really running the show. Or, am I reading too much into it, and it is just another day in the life of Venezuela?
February 15, 2013 at 11:48 am
Oh what a tangled web we weave,
When first we practice to deceive!
Sir Walter Scott
February 15, 2013 at 10:33 am
Venezuelan government shows first photos of president Hugo Chavez in more than 2 months
http://www.foxnews.com/world/2013/02/15/venezuelan-government-shows-first-photos-president-hugo-chavez-in-more-than-2/#ixzz2Kyxy7ILo
February 15, 2013 at 11:10 am
So, Shrodinger’s quantum bubble of indeterminacy collapses and the cat (Chavez) is alive… more or less.
February 15, 2013 at 11:28 am
Those are the funniest photos I’ve ever seen.
ND is full of people saying they are earlier pictures, before the operation, or just simply Photo Shopped. He has more make up on than a Miss Venezuela contestant.
February 15, 2013 at 11:38 am
It was also made clear by Arreaza that Chavez is in palliative care.
February 15, 2013 at 12:08 pm
When did he say so? I missed it somehow.
February 15, 2013 at 12:52 pm
Arreaza’s interview was with Telesur, “tratamientos paliativos” is at 09:42.
http://www.telesurtv.net/articulos/2013/02/15/imagenes-de-chavez-muestran-que-oposicion-busca-jugar-con-la-mente-del-pueblo-2442.html
February 15, 2013 at 8:17 am
The link of Maduro goes to the gorra article, nothing about the devaluation…
February 15, 2013 at 8:32 am
Substituted it, could not find original one.
February 15, 2013 at 7:54 am
For all of recorded history, most Leaders have died young and anonymously. Venezuela will be no different. Translation: until enough innocent blood had been sacrificed, the nightmare will continue.
So yes, good for the students, Those willing to Lead. More will be needed, many more.
February 15, 2013 at 9:39 am
You mean willing to die.
February 15, 2013 at 11:06 am
No, not necessarily to die. But, willing to risk it, yes.
True change is rarely made by people who are not willing to risk their lives for their cause.
“…we mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes and our sacred honor.” – The Declaration of Independence.
February 15, 2013 at 11:29 am
Y despuez de firmar esa Declaracion, hecharon mucho plomo y muchos murieron! Los que firmaron no tenian la menor duda de lo que iba a pasar en consequencia de su acto, e estaban dispuestos a morir
February 15, 2013 at 1:49 pm
Yes and yes. True Leadership requires a willingness to sacrifice. In this case, one has to Love their country enough that they are willing to lay down their life in order to save the country. Until now, few of the opposition have been willing. I believe that Caprilles was willing. Venezuela’s salvation will require many more such patriots.
February 15, 2013 at 7:20 am
Good for the students, good for the students, good for the students
February 15, 2013 at 9:57 am
Indeed, no regime can keep the respect of its people if it is subservient to another and in the process loses the country’s sovereignty. The students are brave and they are on the right path. They need the rest of the country to support them.
February 15, 2013 at 12:07 pm
Eeeeestudiantes! Eeeeestudiantes!
February 15, 2013 at 4:57 am
While we are trying to figure out what will happen tomorrow or next week, It is worthwhile to step back about to about four or five years ago and note that (in the big picture), what most of us here predicted was the inevitable result of the direction that Chavez was taking the country in, is exactly what is happening now: Social and economic collapse.
When the fruit is ripe, it will fall. And Venezuela is rotten-ripe.
For a long time, I harbored hopes that Venezuela might experience a “soft landing”. I fear the time for that has passed.
February 16, 2013 at 12:30 am
I’ve been thinking the exact same thing!
February 15, 2013 at 12:35 am
This all sounds like the decline and fall of a country to me.
February 15, 2013 at 12:31 am
It appears the 21st century revolutionary ship of state is sinking… once the rats begin to disembark we will know for sure!