An interview with Venezuelan opposition leader Henrique Capriles earlier this week left me more hopeful than at any time in recent months that President Nicolás Maduro may not be able to maintain his de facto dictatorship indefinitely.
Until a few weeks ago, the conventional wisdom in diplomatic circles was that Maduro’s control of virtually all Venezuelan institutions, his suppression of the opposition-controlled National Assembly’s powers, military repression and a divided opposition would make it very difficult to restore democracy in Venezuela anytime soon. But, all of a sudden, the opposition has regained its momentum.
An escalation of international diplomatic pressure against Maduro and
