Navigating Corruption: Implications for Venezuela’s Future

This post is also available in: Spanish

As Venezuelans prepare for a presidential election scheduled to take place on July 28, international attention is focused on the uneven playing field leading up to election day, the extent to which these elections will be clean and fair, if the opposition will remain united in the electoral route, and whether the Maduro government will uphold the results if it loses. While focusing on electoral conditions is essential, whoever governs the country in the next term will do so in a nation plagued by corruption, drug trafficking, money laundering, and organized crime. According to Transparency Venezuela, there are 167 cases, implicating 509 people, currently under investigation in 29 countries. The amount of public funds allegedly compromised in 58 percent of these cases is over US$ 65 billion. In the United States, 79 people have been sentenced for these crimes, including 71 who have declared themselves guilty, and 42 remain fugitive.

Join us for this hybrid event on Friday May 3, 2024, from 10:30 AM to 12:00 PM EDT at the Inter-American Dialogue for a panel discussion exploring corruption in Venezuela today and what it means for the country’s future. Where is corruption most evident? What impact does it have on human rights? How can corruption be adequately investigated, and can this be done in Venezuela? What is the status of ongoing international investigations into these crimes abroad? Can these international prosecutions be used as leverage to promote a transition to democracy in the country? What can key international actors do to address this problem?

Follow this event on X (formerly Twitter) @The_Dialogue.

This event will have simultaneous interpretation from English to Spanish and vice versa for those who join the event online through the RSVP.

OPENING REMARKS

REBECCA BILL CHAVEZ

President and CEO, Inter-American Dialogue (@RebeccaBillChav)

PANELISTS

MERCEDES DE FREITAS

Founder and Executive Director, Transparency Venezuela (@soymerchy)

VLADIMIR ARAS

Federal Circuit Prosecutor of Brasilia, Brazil (@VladimirAras) – online

JOSH GOODMAN

Investigative Reporter, The Associated Press (@APjoshgoodman) – online

KURT K. LUNKENHEIMER 

Member, Cozen O’ Connor, and Former Assistant US Attorney in the Southern District of Florida – online

TAMARA TARACIUK BRONER

Director, Rule of Law Program, Inter-American Dialogue (@TamaraTaraciuk) – online

MODERATOR

CLAUDIA GURISATTI

General Director, NTN24 (@CGurisattiNTN24)

 

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