Oslo initiative further divides Venezuelans burdened by the crisis

[Warlock-]

The polarization in Venezuela is expressed in the streets, after a round of dialogue in Norway ended this week without an agreement between Nicolás Maduro and Juan Guaidó.

Two days before the conclusion of a negotiation round in Norway to end the crisis in Venezuela without agreement, the validity or otherwise of the initiative promoted by Oslo continues to be something to talk about within the South American country.

Apparently, the negotiation of Norway is not the favorite of many of those who oppose the president in dispute Nicolás Maduro, who for a long time do not have dialogue as an option and in reality what they want is their immediate exit from power. Others, however, say that "a frank and open dialogue" is the way to leave behind the serious crisis. Those who oppose, allege that Maduro often used dialogue to delay his presence in Miraflores and continue to impede democracy, progress and freedom in Venezuela. "Everything that is happening in Norway is a great farce to buy time and use that time to refine their defensive strategies and to annihilate the democratic forces that are here and that we do not fall into that dynamic that is for me of defeat (... ) and this country is not going to give up, "the well-known opposition Maria Corina Machado told the Voice of America on Friday. He also said that he knows that the "hemispheric allies are not going to give up". It seemed an allusion to countries like the United States and Peru, which have not ruled out the Oslo initiative, but have asked for "caution", citing similar concerns to which the government in charge of Juan Guaidó exposes.

Other deputies to the National Assembly of Venezuela, which Guaidó also leads, have not ruled it out, but they did downplay the Oslo dialogue. Deputy Angel Medina, for example, told the Voice of America on Friday that "Oslo is not the only option (for dialogue)", but he admitted that they will continue using any space "to get out of the crisis". In that regard, he welcomed the meeting of the Lima Group and the International Contact Group that will take place next Monday in New York.

"All options for rescuing Venezuela's democracy and freedom are on the table, the only option that is not viable is to surrender, we will not renounce our intention to freely and sovereignly choose the future of our country," he wrote. On his Twitter account the second vice president of the National Assembly, who headed the delegation of Guaidó in Oslo.

 

Maduro is not an option

The exit to the crisis happens, say the majority of those that support the mandate of Guaidó, by the disappearance of Maduro of the Venezuelan political scene. However, Maduro retains control over the military high command and state institutions in the country. He has even said that he will advance the legislative elections, something unknown to the government of Guaidó, the United States and the more than 50 countries that support the transition in Venezuela. "Nicolás Maduro can not summon anything, nor can he be a candidate for anything (...) he is being investigated for crimes against humanity by the International Criminal Court," said María Corina Machado. "They will not hand over power if there is no firm position," he said.

 

On the street opinions are divided

A survey carried out in the streets of Venezuela showed that the polarization in the country does not subside. And it is not now, the divisions were clear from the time of the late President Hugo Chávez, who provoked extreme positions since he came to power in 1999. With so many years in between, his political heir continues to arouse mixed reactions.

"We have arrived at a climate where we must find a solution, the negotiations are completely exhausted, I do not think any of the factors are willing to give in," said Venezuelan youngster Neiudi Contreras to the Voice of America. "(The dialogue) is as I always say, more of the same," said a young Neiruska Guerra. "They reach a dialogue, an agreement between them, and really those affected are us as citizens and they do not see beyond." And on the opposite side, others like Ridi Ramírez, who said: "The best solution in the country is frank and open dialogue for the solution of the country's political problems."