For several days, this South American country led by the very controversial Nicols Maduro has been living to the rhythm of a series of arrests in oil circles which one wonders if it does not hide a form of political purge.
The first arrests began on March 17 and have accelerated in recent days. 51 people are now behind bars, and all are linked to the country’s major industries. The whole thing is skilfully staged by the authorities: special interruption of programs on national television, images of the suspects arrested during the night, then all forced to wear an orange jumpsuit which recalls that of the former prisoners of the American base of Guantanamo.
Nothing is left to chance. And Attorney General Tarek William Saab uses big words: “Venezuela is today an example for the whole world in the relentless fight against the terrible scourge of corruption, this scourge of corruption was born with civilization. Civilization was born, corruption with it!” The prosecutor promises new arrests in the coming days and Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro adds: “Let’s go all the way!”
Oil circles in the crosshairs
Among those arrested are elected officials: a mayor, a deputy, judges. And above all business leaders: Antonio Perez, vice-president of the national oil conglomerate, Petroleos de Venezuela, Pedro Maldonado, president of the mineral exploitation company (gold, diamonds, bauxite), Nestor Astudillo , the director of the public steel company.
The investigations are particularly aimed at oil circles, suspected of having speculated on a cryptocurrency to circumvent American sanctions. Oil Minister Tarek Al Aissami has had to resign, the prosecutor refuses to say whether he too will be charged.
Oil is the main resource of Venezuela: this country of 28 million inhabitants has the largest reserves in the world with those of Saudi Arabia. But under the impact of US sanctions and incompetent management, production has plummeted. Power seeks to revive it.
Faction struggles and communication operation
The suspicion of a political purge is real because Maduro’s Venezuela is accustomed to the fact. Corruption investigations have been regular for six years: 31 in total. Hundreds of people have been arrested over the years. And the profile of the accused suggests that there is a way for the power to dismiss rivals. For example, the resigning Minister of Oil is in conflict with the Speaker of Parliament. It smacks of the factional struggle and the settling of accounts with former relatives of Nicolas Maduro’s predecessor, Hugo Chavez.
Power obviously defends itself from any political purge: “Since when is theft an ideology?” protests the Attorney General. In any case, there is, at least, a big communication operation at work in a country considered one of the most corrupt in the world, ranked 177th out of 180 in the corruption perception index of the NGO Transparency International.