The Heat: Venezuela’s economic crisis

The Heat

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro fights for political survival as his country faces recession, soaring inflation and shortages of basic goods.

He came into office seeking to mirror his charismatic predecessor and mentor, Hugo Chávez. But now, three years after the death of Chávez, with his country sinking deeper into an economic crisis, Nicolas Maduro’s loyalty to the former leader may now be his greatest liability.

Venezuela’s economy is in shambles, in part because Maduro has continued with the same policies, something some economists suggest has contributed to recession, soaring inflation and shortages of basic goods.

CCTV America’s Michael Voss reports. Follow Michael Voss on Twitter @mvosscuba

To discuss more of the situation in Venezuela:

  • Victor Gao, director of the China National Association of International Studies
  • Ana Soliz de Stange, a research Fellow at the GIGA Institute of Latin America Studies
  • Miguel Tinker Salas, professor of Latin American history at Pomona College and the author of “Venezuela: What Everyone Needs to Know”