The End of a Regime? Understanding the Extraction of Maduro

For almost three decades, Venezuela has lived under a political experiment that promised dignity, equality, and sovereignty; Socialism in the Venezuelan way. What unfolded instead was a slow-motion national collapse—economic, institutional, and moral. The eventual extraction of Nicolás Maduro from power, far from being an “intervention,” was the culmination of a long process in which the Venezuelan state hollowed itself out from within. For Venezuelans, the intervention was the one carried out by the regime itself: a systematic dismantling of democratic institutions, civil society, and the economic foundations that once made Venezuela Latin America’s most prosperous nation.

A Nation Unmade from Within

When analysts describe the Venezuelan crisis, they often focus on external pressures—sanctions, geopolitical rivalries, or foreign influence. But the deeper story is internal. Long before Maduro faced international isolation, the Venezuelan state had already been weakened by corruption, mismanagement, and the politicization of every public institution.

Under Maduro, these trends accelerated dramatically:

• The economy contracted by more than 70 percent, one of the worst peacetime collapses in modern history.
• One of the longest hyperinflations of history destroyed savings, wages, and the basic functioning of markets.
• Oil production—once the backbone of national prosperity—fell to levels not seen since the 1930s.
• Public services collapsed, from electricity to healthcare to water systems.

The Human Cost: A Society Forced to Flee

Perhaps the most devastating legacy of the Maduro era is the mass displacement of Venezuelans. Almost eight million people left the country—one of the largest migrations in the world, rivaling those caused by war and natural disaster. Families were separated. Professionals abandoned careers. Children grew up in refugee camps or informal settlements across Latin America.

This exodus was not triggered by foreign intervention. It was driven by challenges like empty hospitals and medicine shortages; food insecurity and widespread malnutrition; rampant violence and the rise of armed groups; and the general collapse of the rule of law in the Venezuelan state.

The Regime’s Internal Fractures and a Plan for Transition

By the time Maduro was extracted from power, the regime had already fractured internally. Competing factions within the military, the intelligence services, and the ruling party struggled for control of dwindling resources. Criminal networks—some embedded within the state—operated with increasing autonomy.

This fragmentation made the regime brittle. It also created the conditions for a negotiated exit, as key actors recognized that the system could no longer sustain itself. The international community must move quickly to present a clear, structured plan—complete with defined terms, responsibilities, and deadlines—to support that transition.

Some commentators have attempted to frame Maduro’s removal as an external imposition. But this narrative ignores several realities. First, the decisive pressure came not from external forces but from Venezuelans themselves: civil society, dissidents, and especially, regime insiders. Second, no foreign troops are stationed in Venezuelan territory. And finally, the Venezuelan regime is cooperating with a process of stabilization and transformation.

 

The Moral and Political Lessons

The Venezuelan case raises difficult questions for the region and the world. First and foremost, what responsibilities do states have when a government systematically harms its own population? How should the international community respond when democratic institutions are dismantled from within? And, what safeguards can prevent future leaders from concentrating power in ways that erode national stability?

A Path Forward

Maduro’s extraction is not the end of Venezuela’s crisis. It is the beginning of a long and uncertain reconstruction. The country must rebuild its economy, especially the oil industry, which was shattered by years of mismanagement. It must refortify its institutions, which have been weakened by corruption and politicization. And most of all, it must repair its torn social fabric, which was utterly destroyed by migration and trauma.

The story of Maduro’s extraction is not a tale of foreign intervention. It is a story of internal collapse, human suffering, and the eventual recognition—by Venezuelans and by the world—that a government cannot indefinitely destroy the lives of its citizens without facing consequences. Venezuela’s future will depend on whether it can rebuild a society rooted in dignity, freedom, and the rule of law. The international community has a critical role to play in fulfilling this future.

Image licensed via Wikimedia Commons and resized for scale