Venezuela After the Earthquakes
On June 24, 2026, two earthquakes struck Venezuela with magnitudes of 7.2 and 7.5. As of 2 July, the official death toll has climbed past 2,295, and more than 38,600 people remain unaccounted for. Having lived through the disaster in Caracas and seeing people desperately crying for help, only reinforces our own empirical understanding of a state in decline. Democracy depends on social trust and a functioning state with administrative capacities. Within hours, what the earthquakes revealed was the extent to which those foundations have eroded in Venezuela.
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Nach den Beben in Venezuela
Am 24. Juni 2026 erschütterten zwei schwere Erdbeben der Stärken 7,2 und 7,5 Venezuela. Bis zum 2. Juli stieg die offizielle Zahl der Todesopfer auf über 2.295. Mehr als 38.600 Menschen gelten weiterhin als vermisst. Wer die Katastrophe in Caracas selbst miterlebt hat und die Menschen verzweifelt um Hilfe schreien sah, für den wird der schleichende Verfall des Staates zur bitteren Gewissheit. Eine Demokratie lebt von gesellschaftlichem Vertrauen und einem funktionierenden Staat. Innerhalb weniger Stunden offenbarten die Erdbeben, wie stark dieses Fundament in Venezuela bereits erodiert ist.
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Gaming Procedure, Gutting Due Process
The Trump administration has admitted that sending Abrego Garcia to a supermax prison in El Salvador known for human rights abuses was an “administrative error” but contends before the U.S. Supreme Court that there is nothing a federal court can do about that. As I shall explain, the Solicitor General’s argument ultimately rests on the claim that the president who frequently boasts about his abilities as a deal maker is a lousy negotiator.
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Unprecedented Fraud and New Momentum
Venezuela is entering a new, dangerous phase of its conflict. Though not fully verified, the opposition appears to have won the July 28 election by a landslide. Nicolás Maduro's government has likely committed unprecedented fraud, tampering with votes and withholding tallies. Massive protests have erupted nationwide, with the government rapidly increasing repression and surveillance. This challenges prospects for a democratic transition, requiring a skilled national and international response.
Continue reading >>Voting To Annex?
On December 3, Venezuelans will vote in a referendum on the annexation of Esequibo to the territory of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela. This blog post argues that the referendum has implications for both domestic constitutional law and international law. Since the referendum cannot have any practical effect under international law, it also violates the voters’ constitutional right to participate freely in public affairs. By prioritizing solely the interests of Venezuela over the sovereignty of Guyana, the referendum might be contrary to the principles of peaceful dispute settlement and the prohibition of force, as stipulated in the United Nations Charter. It could also challenge the established legal doctrine of state consent and infringe upon the principle of prioritizing international obligations over national law.
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