Analysis: Who is the important figure behind the Maduro regime?

Venezuelan Assembly President Jorge Rodríguez has proposed an electoral reform that would prevent foreign countries from commenting on Venezuelan elections.

This measure reflects the growing tension between the Nicolás Maduro regime and the international community.

International analyst Lourival Sant’Anna outlined during the CNN Prime Time a detailed profile of Rodríguez, highlighting his crucial role in the Venezuelan regime.

According to Sant’Anna, Rodríguez is more than just the president of the Assembly; he is one of the figures who truly controls the country.

The past that shaped the present

Jorge Rodríguez, a trained psychiatrist, has a family history marked by political violence. His father, a leftist guerrilla, was murdered after kidnapping an American businessman.

This traumatic event fueled deep resentment in Rodríguez against Venezuela’s previous democratic regime.

In 2003, Rodríguez joined the Chavista movement, quickly rising through the ranks of power.

His experience at the National Electoral Council gave him an intimate knowledge of the Venezuelan political system, which he now uses to strengthen the regime’s control.

The true power behind the throne

Sant’Anna emphasizes that although Nicolás Maduro is the public face of the government, the real power lies in the hands of figures like Rodríguez and Attorney General Tarek William Saab.

“Nicolás Maduro is a figurehead,” the analyst says, suggesting that if Maduro were to fall, Rodríguez could emerge as the country’s new authoritarian leader.

Rodríguez’s electoral reform proposal is seen as an extension of his hardline approach, aimed at silencing international criticism of Venezuela’s electoral practices.

However, Sant’Anna notes that despite the aggressive rhetoric, Rodríguez’s influence is limited to Venezuelan territory, making his threats against foreign comments “totally innocuous.”

This situation highlights the complexity of the Venezuelan political landscape and the challenges faced by the opposition and the international community in dealing with a regime that increasingly seeks to isolate itself from external scrutiny.