It has the largest known oil reserves in the world.

它擁有全世界已經最多的石油存量。

And its democratic government was once praised world wide.

而它的民主政體也曾廣被世人稱讚。

But today, Venezuela's democratic institutions and its economy are in shambles.

但是如今，委內瑞拉的民主體制以及經濟陷入混亂。

The country has the highest inflation in the world, making food and medicine inaccessible

這個國家有最嚴重的通貨膨脹，使得食物及藥物對

to most Venezuelans.

大多數的委內瑞拉人變得難以取得。

Over the last four years, its GDP has fallen 35%, which is a sharper drop than the one

在過去四年，它的國內生產總額已經減少了 35%，這是比美國經濟大蕭條時

seen during the Great Depression in the US.

更為急遽的下降。

The country's murder rate has surpassed that of the most dangerous cities in the world.

這個國家的謀殺率已經超過了其它世界上最危險的城市。

These conditions have sparked months of protests against the president, Nicolas Maduro.

這些情況引起了數個月來針對總統尼可拉斯馬杜洛的抗議。

And it's easy to see why: the country has become measurably worse since his election

這原因也很容易看出來: 這個國家已經明顯惡化自他

in 2013.

於 2013 年當選後。

A poll showed that about 80% of Venezuelans want Maduro removed from office.

一則民調顯示大約 80% 的委內瑞拉人想要將他趕出總統府。

But instead, the opposite has happened: Maduro has consolidated his power bringing the country

但是相反地事卻發生了: 馬杜洛強化了他的力量將這國家帶向

closer to authoritarian rule.

更加獨裁的狀態。

Maduro's political ambition became evident in December 2015.

馬杜洛的政治野心在 2015 年 12 月開始展露。

Two years after he became president, a coalition of opposition parties called the Democratic

在他當選總統兩年後，由反對派集結而成的民主團結平台

Unity Roundtable or MUD, won a two-thirds majority in the National Assembly, putting

在國民議會上贏得了三分之二的多數席次

Maduro's rule at risk.

使得馬杜洛的大權岌岌可危。

In response, Maduro quickly forced out several Supreme Court justices and filled the positions

作為回應，馬杜洛很快地強迫開除幾位大法官

with cronies loyal to him.

並在那些位置安插他的親信。

In March 2016, the court ruled to strip the opposition-led National Assembly of its powers

在 2016 年三月，法院裁定剝奪由反對派領導的國民議會的權會

-- a move that sparked massive protests across the country.

-- 這個舉動導致了全國上下大規模的抗議。

The ruling was reversed a few days later, but the damage was done -- protests continued

這項裁定在幾天後收回，但是傷害卻已經造成 -- 抗爭持續

to grow and have left about 100 dead and thousands injured so far.

增長而且已造成了約 100 人死亡及上千人受傷。

Despite the violence and public outcry, Maduro held a vote in July to elect a new governing

儘管有暴力與公眾抗爭，馬杜洛在七月主持了場投票選出了新的管理

body called the National Constituent Assembly, which would have the power to rewrite Venezuela's

團體稱作國民制憲會議，它擁有重新訂定委內瑞拉

constitution and essentially replace the National Assembly. And leave virtually non opposition to Maduro's rule.

憲法並在本質上取代國民議會。而且不得反對馬杜洛的統治。

With Maduro's recent vote, Venezuelans didn't have a say in whether the assembly should exist.

在最近馬杜洛的選舉，委內瑞拉人並無法選擇這個議會是否該存在。

They only had the option to elect its members.

他們僅有的選擇只是選出它的成員。

But when Maduro's predecessor, Hugo Chavez proposed a constitutional rewrite in 1999,

但當馬杜洛的前任，雨果查維茲於 1999 年提出了重新制憲

he first called for a referendum to propose the election of the assembly.

他第一次呼籲公投案來提出議會選舉。

After most Venezuelans voted yes, they elected a new National Constituent Assembly.

在多數委內瑞拉人投下同意票後，他們選出了新的國民制憲會議成員。

See, unlike Maduro, Chavez was a charismatic and beloved leader.

看，不像馬杜洛，查維茲是個有個人魅力而且受人愛戴的領導人。

In the 90s, he burst onto television sets across the country.

在 90 年代，他在電視爆紅成為了家喻戶口的名人。

He blamed government corruption and Venezuela's elite for the economic inequality.

他責難政府貪腐以及委內瑞拉的精英分子造成經濟上的不平等。

His populist message resonated with the country's poor who eventually helped bring him to power.

他那平民主義的訊息傳遍全國的貧民階級，這群人最後也擁戴他登上大位。

The key moment in his presidency came in 2004 when oil prices surged.

他總統任內的關鍵時刻在 2004 年油價上漲時來臨。

Venezuela's petroleum- dependent economy started booming and Chavez went on to spend billions from the

委內瑞拉對石油依賴的經濟開始急速發展而且查維茲在獲利後

profits on social-welfare programs for the poor.

分出數十億美金投入社福計畫提供給窮人。

He subsidized food, improved the educational system, built an enviable healthcare system

他補助糧食，改善教育系統，建立一個令人羨慕的健康照護系統

and reduced poverty by more than half.

以及減少了超過一半的貧窮人口。

These programs certainly helped the poor, but they served a purpose for Chavez as well.

這些計畫無疑地幫助了窮人們，但是它們同時也滿足了查維茲的目的。

In order to be re-elected, he needed to keep millions of poor Venezuelans happy.

為了要連任，他需要繼續讓上百萬貧窮選民高興。

So he rigged the economy to do just that...

於是他將經濟操作成那樣的模式...

He didn't scale back Venezuela's dependence on oil and his unrestrained spending led to

他並沒有減少委內瑞拉對於石了的依賴性，而且他毫無節制的花費導致了

a growing deficit.

赤字的成長。

Which meant all these programs would be impossible to sustain if oil prices fell.

代表那些計畫將不再可行，如果油價下跌的話。

After Chavez's death, when Maduro took office as his handpicked successor, that's exactly

在查維茲死後，當馬杜拉作為他指派的繼任者時，這件事

what happened: Oil prices plummeted in 2014 and Maduro failed

的確發生了: 油價在 2014 年直線下跌而馬杜洛也沒能

to adjust.

有所應變。

Hyperinflation has made medicines and food, that was once subsidized, unaffordable for

超級通膨已經造成藥品及食物，曾經是經由補助得到，對窮人們變得難以負擔

Venezuela's poor, who now make up about 82% of the population.

這些窮人現在佔據了約 82% 的人口。

Like Chavez, Maduro has also rigged the economy to keep himself in power, but this time it's

就像查維茲，馬杜洛也透過操作經濟體來讓自己手握大權，但是這次

not benefitting the poor. He's exploited a complex currency system,

並沒有造福窮人們。他利用了這個查維茲一手打造出來的

put in place by Chavez.

複雜的貨幣系統。

Maduro's set the official exchange rate at 10 bolivars per US dollar.

馬杜洛將匯率訂定在 10 玻利瓦爾對 1 美元。

But only his friends and allies have access to this rate.

但是只有他的親信同盟能夠使用這個匯率。

In reality, the venezuelan currency has become basically worthless.

實際上，委內瑞拉貨幣已經變得一文不值。

Most Venezuelans get their dollars on the black market, where the rate is about 12,000

大多數的委內瑞拉人在黑市兌換貨幣，在那的匯率大約是 12000

bolivar per dollar.

玻利瓦爾對一美元。

The military, which got complete control of the food supply from Maduro in 2016, is reportedly

軍方，從 2016 年開始自馬杜洛手上得到完全的食物供給掌控權，據報

profiting off of this currency crisis.

從這貨幣危機中獲取利益。

They import food at Maduro's special currency rate and sell it on the black market for a

他們用馬杜洛的特別匯率進口食物並將之賣往黑市賺得

massive profit.

巨額利益。

So for military generals and political allies of Maduro, the crisis has offered a lucrative opportunity

所以軍方高層以及馬杜洛的盟友而言，危機使他們有利可圖

which has helped Maduro stay in power.

也為虎作倀。

But he can't rely on that support alone...

但是他不能僅倚賴這些支援...

...which brings us back to Maduro's recent power grab.

...讓我們回到馬杜洛近期對權力的緊握不放。

The opposition boycotted the vote, but Maduro held the vote for the new constitutional assembly

反對派杯葛了這次選舉，但是馬杜洛依然主持了成立新憲法會議的投票，

anyway, and won a majority.

也得到了勝利。

"Protests on the streets of Venezuela turned deadly after President Nicolas Maduro

「委內瑞拉街頭的反對聲勢變得一片死寂，

declares victory."

在總統尼可拉斯馬杜洛宣布勝利後。」

"The violence on Sunday very real"

「星期日發生了嚴重的攻擊事件。」

"The bomb went off near some motorcycle police wounding several."

「炸彈在騎警附近爆炸並造成數名人員受傷。」

"Election day clashes between protesters and police claiming at least 10 more lives....."

「選舉日抗議群眾與警方之間衝突造成了至少超過十名......」

"At least one candidate has been murdered, shot to death."

「至少有一名候選人已經被槍殺身亡。」

Maduro's government is trying to create the illusion of public support.

馬杜洛當局嘗試營造出受眾人支持的假想。

The government claimed about 8 million people, or 40% of the country, voted.

政府宣稱大約八百萬的民眾，或 40% 的人口投了票。

But experts put that number much lower, at just 3 million people.

但專家認為數字應當下修至只有三百萬的民眾。

The international community including Peru, Canada, Spain, Mexico and Argentina condemned

國際社會包括祕魯、加拿大、西班牙、墨西哥以及阿根廷都譴責了

the election.

這場選舉。

The US imposed financial sanctions on Maduro and members of his government.

美國對馬杜洛以及他的內閣實行了經濟制裁。

But Maduro's assembly, filled with loyalists, convened anyway and it swiftly removed attorney

但馬杜洛那滿是心腹的議會依舊照開並且快速地撤換掉

general Luisa Ortega, leader of the opposition.

反對派領袖，司法部長路易莎奧特嘉。

Armed groups reportedly arrested several other opposition leaders too.

據報武裝團體也挾持了其它幾位反對派領袖。

Whether the group will rewrite the constitution or postpone the next presidential election

他們是否會重新訂定憲法或推遲下次的總統大選

remains to be seen.

還要再看看。

For now, Maduro has unprecedented power over a country that continues to spiral out of

就目前來說，馬杜洛將不受控制地倚杖著空前的權力

control.

把持這個國家。