Letter from South America: Sanction threat fails to curb Caracas

Washington has put oil and gas sanctions back in place while Venezuela prepares for elections. But exemptions remain as the Biden administration looks to domestic gasoline prices ahead of the US’ own elections later this year

For the first time in a long time, Venezuela has a unified opposition and President Nicholas Maduro has genuine cause to worry that a free and fair election could unseat him. Maria Corina Machado, the candidate elected in the opposition primaries, was barred from running by a Chavista court. But she has thrown her weight behind a former diplomat, Edmundo Gonzalez, and it seems as though the electorate is also rallying behind him. The election is still several weeks off and there is no telling what skulduggery may be employed between then and now to strengthen the Chavistas’ position. But one thing remains painfully evident: Venezuelans of all stripes desire change. For President Joe Biden, t