In brief
Venezuela's government continues its crackdown on critics, now targeting economists who unveil the stark realities of the country's faltering economy amid escalating inflation and renewed sanctions.
Venezuela’s autocratic leadership, led by President Nicolás Maduro, is intensifying its grip on dissent as inflation spirals out of control. The regime, which historically persecuted political opponents, is now targeting economists who contribute to exposing the dire financial conditions through independent analysis. Human rights organizations report that approximately two dozen economists and individuals publishing economic data have been detained in recent weeks, reflecting a broader effort by the government to monopolize information about the economy and suppress dissenting voices.Phil Gunson, an analyst with the International Crisis Group, has noted that this move signifies a "shoot-the-messenger" strategy, aimed at undermining any credible narratives related to the country’s deepening fiscal crisis. The Central Bank of Venezuela's long-standing failure to provide accurate data has left a significant void that independent economists have sought to fill, but these efforts are now met with increasing hostility from the authorities.In Venezuela, the bolívar remains the official currency, but actual transactions increasingly occur in U.S. dollars, illustrating the dual-currency system that complicates financial assessments. The Venezuelan government’s actions reflect its desperation to maintain control over economic narratives as it grapples with mounting pressure from a worsening financial crisis and international sanctions, especially those intensified under the Trump administration.
