NEWS FLASH

UPCOMING WEBINAR - GEORGIA'S ELECTIONS AND CAUCASUS AND CENTRAL ASIA OU...

Maduro’s Unnecessary and Costly Disruption
VENEZUELA · Report · 02 Feb 2024

This article was originally published in Americas Quarterly on January 31, 2024. Few expected a complete resolution of Venezuela’s political crisis this year. But many did hope, at least, for substantial progress towards a democratic transition that would put the country’s citizens first, capp...

Maduro tightens the reins
VENEZUELA · Report · 29 Jan 2024

Maduro's government started off the year with an offensive to consolidate hardline positions in the face of threats it’s facing in this electoral year. It has three strategic objectives: first, strengthen its leadership and bureaucratic and electoral apparatuses; second, promote division and abst...

Increases and promises have begun
VENEZUELA · In Brief · 17 Jan 2024

Increases and promises have begun On January 15, President Nicolás Maduro announced the increase of the Minimum Integral Indexed Income (Ingreso Mínimo Integral Indexado, IMII) for public sector workers to $100 (from $80, +25%) as of February 1, by way of an increase of the Bonus Against the Econ...

Exchange rates matter now more than ever
VENEZUELA · Report · 16 Jan 2024

In 2023, the Venezuelan Central Bank (Banco Central de Venezuela, or BCV) sharpened its focus on taming the exchange rate. In the fourth quarter, which is when public outlays tend to be strongest, the BCV supplemented active exchange rate intervention with close monitoring of bank exchange operat...

Maduro's New Year's resolutions
VENEZUELA · Report · 28 Dec 2023

On the surface, Nicolás Maduro is closing 2023 with a positive balance. He overcame challenging situations and looks ready to face 2024 with better control of the playing field. But next year, he must achieve something his political skill does not guarantee: to enthuse Venezuelans to obtain a cre...

An irrelevant 2024 fiscal budget
VENEZUELA · Report · 21 Dec 2023

On December 14, 2023, the National Assembly approved the 2024 Budget and Indebtedness Law for Bs 730 billion ($20 billion at the BCV exchange rate). This budget, unfortunately, does not serve its purpose as a fiscal policy guidance tool, which is a matter of concern.

Does this help the Barbados negotiations?
VENEZUELA · In Brief · 20 Dec 2023

The Maduro government released two American prisoners yesterday and returned them shortly after to prison allegedly because of an airplane issue. It seems more likely that this episode was part of the most critical prisoner exchange that Maduro has ever carried out, involving the release of Alex ...

Laying the groundwork for elections
VENEZUELA · Report · 19 Dec 2023

Faced with a high likelihood that a competitive election could lead Maduro to lose power or that the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruling could hand Guyana a victory, the government has chosen the defense of the Essequibo as a way to unify the people against two enemies, one external (Guya...

Inflation cooldown in 2024 rests on oil and politics
VENEZUELA · Report · 15 Dec 2023

In November, thanks to near stability in the parallel exchange rate (up by only 1.3 percent), the pace of monthly inflation slowed to 3.5 percent from the 5.9-percent rate observed in October. The Central Bank of Venezuela (BCV) intervened aggressively in the foreign exchange markets during the f...

A Prelude to the Campaign
VENEZUELA · Report · 29 Nov 2023

April 8, 2024 will be the Venezuelan government’s last chance to act at the International Court of Justice in defense of its rights over the Essequibo region. Even though a clear judicial route exists for addressing the Essequibo conflict, on December 3, the Maduro government opted for calling a...

Freedoms will drive outcomes in 2024
VENEZUELA · Forecast · 29 Nov 2023

The sanctions relief begun in late 2022 is gradually adding oxygen to the Venezuelan economy. While it’s no panacea, it does translate into higher output for the joint ventures in which Chevron, Eni, Repsol, and Maurel & Prom hold minority stakes, and therefore stronger export revenue and foreign...

Our inflation outlook hinges on a GL 44 renewal in April - amended
VENEZUELA · Report · 17 Nov 2023

We are re-sending this report, amended with small changes to Tables 2-9 in the Statistical Annex that brought our inflation forecast to 204% from our previous 202%. In October, inflation in Venezuela slowed to 5.7 percent in an interruption of its sustained upward trend seen in May–September. ...

Our inflation outlook hinges on a GL 44 renewal in April
VENEZUELA · Report · 14 Nov 2023

In October, inflation in Venezuela slowed to 5.7 percent in an interruption of its sustained upward trend seen in May–September. We project annual inflation in 2023 to reach 202 percent, down from 234 percent in 2022. October was an atypical month in that primary money (M0) contracted despite ...

Webinar replay: Venezuela - What's Next?
VENEZUELA · Report · 10 Nov 2023

With the US easing of sanctions on Venezuela's energy industries, what is ahead for the country and where are the opportunities? Visit our calendar page to watch the replay of our webinar featuring Ruth Krivoy as she discusses what's next for Venezuela.

Slide Presentation: Venezuela - What's Next
VENEZUELA · Report · 10 Nov 2023

With the US's easing of sanctions on Venezuela's energy industries, get insight into what's ahead for the country with the slide presentation from our webinar featuring Ruth Krivoy, "Venezuela: What's Next".