Professor David Smilde weighs in on Venezuelan political conflict on ABC Local 10

Dr. David Smilde, the Charles A. and Leo M. Favrot Professor of Human Relations and Senior Associate Fellow at the Center for Inter-American Policy and Research, recently weighed in on Venezuelan opposition to the Nicolás Maduro presidency on ABC Local 10. While all members of Venezuela’s opposition-led National Assembly have agreed to support Juan Guaidó as interim president, a small minority is continuing negotiations with Maduro in an effort to reform the electoral board and dissolve the constitutional assembly. Smilde insists that this division within the opposition ultimately helps Maduro retain control. Regarding the negotiations, he states, “The biggest flaw of all is that it doesn’t address the elephant in the room — that is presidential power.”

View the entire news clip or read the transcript at the ABC Local 10 website.