🌻Maria I. Puerta Riera Profile picture
Proud immigrant • PoliSci Adj Prof • PhD in Cultural Studies • @UCarabobo • @Latinoamerica21 • Democracy & Autocratization • She/Her/Ella • RT≠endorsement
Dec 9, 2020 5 tweets 2 min read
Starting right now ⤵️ moderated by @StaffanILindber @StaffanILindber Today we had the opportunity to listen to Lucan Way & Alexander Dukalskis, with @StaffanILindber in the moderation, discuss the future of authoritarianism. I was left with lots of questions about LW’s thoughts about the incentives of elections for autocrats facing minimal costs.
Dec 8, 2020 11 tweets 3 min read
Siguen ‘analizando', desde la realidad política venezolana, el proceso electoral de los EE.UU. Les recomiendo lean a los expertos en materia electoral en los EE.UU

1. 2.
Dec 7, 2020 4 tweets 1 min read
There’s a deep divide among Venezuelans, not just between Chavismo and Opposition, but within those who identify as *anti-chavismo* and pro-Opposition. The frictions have increased since public debate about participating in Maduro’s sham presidential election in 2018, and yesterday’s flawed parliamentary election, have boosted polarization among anti-government groups.
Dec 5, 2020 10 tweets 3 min read
En "Elecciones sin democracia
El menú de la manipulación electoral”, Andreas Schedler encuentra que:

"Las elecciones pueden ser consideradas democráticas si y solo si cumplen todos y cada uno de los rubros de la lista:"
Dec 5, 2020 23 tweets 4 min read
In other news, the Venezuelan regime has a scheduled parliamentary 'election' tomorrow, in which the Opposition is not participating. However, beyond the boycott, the Maduro regime took the necessary measures to prevent the Opposition from taking part in the process. This event should be looked at from two perspectives: institutional framework and political representation. I’ll try to summarize the context, and then introduce the theoretical approach to the problem.
Nov 20, 2020 34 tweets 7 min read
Don’t be surprised with progressives and the left gaining more support. The right is advancing an authoritarian agenda, and they will face the consequences. They will have only themselves to blame. They are terrified with the prospects of a minority-majority country, where the White population that is being outpaced by Latinos. They think disenfranchising is the best mechanism to avoid the inevitable.
Nov 19, 2020 10 tweets 3 min read
The events of today are slightly different, from what this circus has been since Election Day. First, the messaging is clear: the Trump campaign doesn’t have the votes, but not even a legal case. They have their base and they are gearing up for a fight: They have been feeding their base enough long to have them ready, they haven't had luck, yet:
Nov 19, 2020 4 tweets 1 min read
People from Latin America who are not familiar with racial issues in the U.S. believe this is false. Brown people have bought into right-wing media’s narrative. A friend sent me this disturbing video:

bit.ly/330vdKI
Nov 19, 2020 7 tweets 1 min read
A white and privileged Venezuelan man accusing me of sowing division because I dare to say that Republicans are racists. He’s also playing the *socialist* card, because in their very limited intellectual capacity, that’s about as much as they can deal with in a political debate.
Nov 7, 2020 18 tweets 3 min read
Several days ago a local reporter asked what was the reason for the "interest" Venezuelans have about politics (and elections) in the United States. We spoke about Venezuelan-Americans and their support for Trump, and the influence the Cuban-American exile in South Florida has on the Venezuelan-American community.
Nov 7, 2020 18 tweets 3 min read
Hace unos días una reportera de aquí me preguntaba cuál era la razón de ese ‘interés’ de los venezolanos en la política (y las elecciones) de los estados Unidos. Hablamos por supuesto de los venezolanos-americanos, de su preferencia por Trump, y de la influencia del exilio cubano-americano en el sur de la Florida sobre la comunidad venezolano-americana.
Nov 4, 2020 7 tweets 2 min read
Here’s the race for the EV's at 11:05 am Image Image
Jun 22, 2020 5 tweets 1 min read
Creer que Trump apoya incondicionalmente a Guaidó, o que está decidido a reunirse con Maduro, deja por fuera lo fundamental: ¿cuáles son los intereses de Trump? Temprano me referí al asunto electoral en la Florida, y ese no es el único tema de interés para Trump o su campaña. Si algo ha caracterizado a esta administración es su inconsistencia.
Jun 8, 2020 9 tweets 2 min read
Los venezolanos que apoyan a Trump no se han enterado que a él le importa un carajo Venezuela. Siguen creyendo que les va a mandar a los Marines, y no ven las reacciones por haber mandado la Guardia a D.C.
Jan 6, 2020 8 tweets 2 min read
La decisión del chavismo de arrasar en la elección de la directiva de la AN provocó dos reacciones [adversas]: a lo interno, grupos disidentes de la oposición terminaron apoyando a Guaidó, aumentando el número de votos presenciales (no hicieron falta los virtuales). En lo externo, los comunicados de México, Argentina y el PSOE pueden parecer tibios, pero se trata de actores que son aliados ideológicos del chavismo, y se vieron forzados a recordarle al régimen el necesario respeto por las normas que violó.
Jun 1, 2019 9 tweets 3 min read
May 24, 2019 5 tweets 2 min read
This is how Chavez, and later Maduro, used Venezuela's resources to pay for support Economists have given equal or greater blame to a plunge in aid from Venezuela, where the collapse of the state-run oil company has led to a nearly ⅔ cut in shipments of subsidized fuel that Cuba used for power and to earn hard currency on the open market
nytimes.com/2019/05/11/wor…
May 14, 2019 16 tweets 7 min read
Chávez paid for the advice of Castro's Inc. to destroy the Venezuelan political system, the country's economy, and its social fabric. Since 2004, a political structure dependent on the Cuban model of domination began to be raised. Today, finally, some are getting the memo. In 1998, poverty in Venezuela affected 40% of the population, inflation reaching 20%, with 15% of unemployment, and very limited access to healthcare, 70% of the polulation was insured: bit.ly/30nQHhA
May 1, 2019 11 tweets 2 min read
#VENEZUELA crisis:

1. Any scenario in consideration for a final solution to the crisis in Venezuela involves the Armed Forces. 2. The institutional framework Chavez built is in the hands of the military, with civilians depending on them for their safety.
Feb 27, 2019 7 tweets 1 min read
Should Venezuela’s crisis be taken as a cautionary tale, don't blame it entirely on socialism. It was the authoritarian nature in Chávez what first drove him to power, before he embraced socialism, as an instrument to seize the country. When Chávez failed his coup, was again defeated when he later preached against voting. He had to participate in a democratic process to be successful.
Feb 24, 2019 34 tweets 6 min read
Chávez llegó al poder con la promesa de borrar todo vestigio asociado a las instituciones democráticas. Primero lo había intentado por la vía insurreccional, con un saldo de decenas de muertos. Después de su fracaso militar, optó por la vía electoral y triunfó. En las proclamas de la intentona golpista del 4F (1992), las críticas a la democracia fundamentaron esa rebelión militar. Los golpistas cuestionaron el sistema, los actores (partidos), y el sistema meritocrático de las FF.AA.