Will This Be The Last Year For Venezuelan President Maduro?

Miami Herald: Is this Maduro’s final year in office in Venezuela?

* Polls show Venezuela’s president on track to lose recall referendum
* But Maduro has defied expectations of an early exit in the past
* The opposition still struggles to connect with voters

BOGOTA, COLOMBIA: Ever since Nicolás Maduro put on Venezuela’s tri-colored presidential sash on April 19, 2013, people have been wondering how long he might get to wear it. And as the 53-year-old, mustachioed former union organizer begins his fourth year in power, speculation that this year might be his last is once again hitting fever pitch.

At issue is a recall referendum that could potentially end Maduro’s term and trigger new elections. And polls show a vast majority in the ailing country favor doing just that.

But Maduro — like his predecessor and mentor, the late Hugo Chávez — has spent his career defying expectations, particularly those that write him off as a short-timer.

There’s no question that Maduro is bracing for pain. Hounded by an ailing economy, rampant crime and a newly emboldened opposition, he’s now facing an existential crisis.

“Maduro and chavismo are going to lose this referendum and any future election,” said Jesus Seguías, with the DatinCorp polling firm. “Even if Nicolás Maduro fixed all of the country’s social and economic problems people still want him gone. His levels of rejection are that high.”

According to a DatinCorp poll released Thursday, 69 percent of those surveyed said they’ll vote to oust him in a recall.

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WNU editor: As long as the security/military institutions support him .... and they support him, coupled with a determined 20% of the population that still adore him and the legacy of Hugo Chavez .... Venezuelan President Maduro will stay in power until the end of his term. After that .... in the elections that will need to be called one day .... all bets are off. My prediction .... he is not going to willingly give up power, nor do I see him as a leader who will respect the will of people if they should vote him out overwhelmingly in the next Presidential election. Expect chaos, voter fraud, and God only knows what else when this is all over.