VOA标准英语2014--Protests Grip Venezuela 抗议活动控制委内瑞拉

（单词翻译）

Protests Grip Venezuela 抗议活动控制委内瑞拉

WASHINGTON — Nearly one year after the death of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, violent protests have erupted against his hand-picked successor, President Nicolas Maduro. The unrest is fed by deteriorating¹ economic conditions and rampant² lawlessness that cast fresh doubts on the viability³ of the socialist⁴ experiment Chavez launched in Venezuela more than 15 years ago.

Growing numbers of Venezuelans are taking to the streets and confronting riot police.

One protester said, “We Venezuelans do not have food. There are no jobs, no education. There is insecurity. We don't want this anymore."

The unrest comes as no surprise to Latin America expert Michael Shifter. “Economic conditions have never been worse in Venezuela. Crime is off the charts, completely uncontrolled. Inflation is the highest in the world, there are shortages of basic goods. And there is widespread frustration⁵ and discontent with the government,” he said.

Maduro mobilizes supporters

Maduro has mobilized his backers, including petroleum⁶ workers like Jose Hernandez. “The oil industry stands with President Maduro, with his economic measures, in order to counter everything the oligarchy⁷ is doing.”

The “oligarchy” is a reference to Venezuela’s political opposition⁸, whose leader, Leopoldo Lopez, has been arrested.

“We have to take up protests in the streets. It is a moral duty, a patriotic⁹ duty. If not now, then when?” asked Lopez.

Lopez stands accused of inciting¹⁰ violence. Maduro also accuses the United States of engineering unrest, and has expelled three American diplomats¹¹. White House spokesman Jay Carney refutes the charge.

“We have seen many times that the Venezuelan government tries to distract from its own actions by blaming the U.S. or other members of the international community for events inside Venezuela," said Carney.

Deteriorating situation

Meanwhile, Maduro is making thinly-veiled threats about any effort to remove him from office.

“If one day you receive news that the oligarchy succeeded in toppling a government, a scenario¹² that will not happen, then perhaps this peaceful, democratic revolution will take on another character, an armed one, deeply revolutionary. The world should know this. We are willing to do everything necessary,” said Maduro.

In his quest to boost the fortunes of Venezuela’s poor, former President Chavez concentrated political power and depleted¹³ Venezuela’s substantial oil revenues for massive social welfare programs. He is proving a tough act to follow, according to analyst¹⁴ Michael Shifter.

“Chavez really had the charisma¹⁵. He had tremendous political skills, and he had money. He rode a boom in Venezuela. And his successor does not have charisma, does not have political skills, and is really strapped¹⁶ on the fiscal¹⁷ front,” said Shifter.

Shifter does not believe a coup¹⁸ is likely, but thinks conditions in Venezuela could deteriorate¹⁹ further, leading to far deeper, more widespread unrest and pressure for new elections on an accelerated timeline.