Venezuela enters State of Emergency

Venezuela's 'state of emergency': How the country slid into crisis

Protests rocked the Venezuelan capital of Caracas Saturday, as rival factions of pro- and anti-government activists took to the street to add their voices to President Nicolas Maduro's latest attempt to exert some control and hold onto power.

Addressing the nation Friday, Maduro declared a "constitutional state of emergency ... to tend to our country and more importantly to prepare to denounce, neutralize and overcome the external and foreign aggressions against our country."

He has also called for military exercises to take place next weekend to prepare for "any scenario," including a foreign invasion.

But while some marched in support of the government's push for a "state of constitutional exception and economic emergency," which is expected to extend into July, not all are as patient.

People throughout the country lack access to food and basic healthcare.

At times, they can't even turn on the lights -- the government says extreme drought has hampered the country's hydroelectric capabilities.

There are product shortages; there is raging inflation that has annihilated salaries; and there is rampant violent crime.

All of this is leading to widespread anger -- culminating in the sort of protests seen over the weekend, as well as the outbursts of looting and violence that are marring this once-stable South American nation.

Maduro's last days?

Protests are on the rise and a key poll shows nearly 70% of Venezuelans now say Maduro must go this year.

The opposition, won control of the National Assembly in a December election propelled by voter anger, are now pushing for a recall referendum against him.

Venezuela is currently seeing sky-high inflation brought on by plummeting oil prices, which has resulted in a chronic shortage of goods, medicine and power -- all of which is contributing to widespread political unrest.

Maduro threatened Saturday to seize idle Venezuela factories and jail their owners following a decree granting him expanded powers to deal with the country's acute economic crisis.

GDP growth by annual percentage in Venezuela

Source: World Bank

What's behind all this?

Maduro is the heir of the populist president Hugo Chavez, who died of cancer in 2013. Riding to power in 1999 on the back of anti-U.S. sentiment and high oil revenues, Chavez implemented a heavily statist economic model.

But the leftist nature of the movement created enmity with many, including the United States, and Chavez was a regular thorn in the side of former U.S. President George Bush.

But Maduro lacks his predecessor's firebrand populism and, crucially, the high oil prices that funded many of his social programs. This combination has led to widespread dissatisfaction with the former bus driver's time at the helm.

The mutual U.S.-Venezeulan distrust continues to this day.

In March, U.S. President Barack Obama extended an executive order that imposed sanctions on top Venezuelan officials and declared the South American country a national security threat. Maduro scapegoated the U.S., alongside ex-Colombian President Alvaro Uribe in his Friday night address.

He also cited political instability in Brazil, where his close leftist ally President Dilma Rousseff has been sidelined pending an impeachment investigation. Maduro was quick to liken Brazil's situation to his own country's instability -- calling it a "coup" which was "made in the U.S.A."

The economy

Venezuela's economy shrank 5.7% in 2015 and is expected to contract an additional 8% this year, the International Monetary Fund says. Inflation has skyrocketed, suffering annual inflation rates predicted to hit the 700% range while failing to meet its citizens' most basic needs, according to IMF projections.

The bolivar, Venezuela's currency, is worth less than a penny on the black-market exchange.

And the country's economic woes don't look like they will be solved any time soon. Vice President Aristobulo Isturiz announced in April that there will be three days per week of mandatory leave for all nonessential public workers until further notice -- which means a two-day work week for thousands of civil servants.

Falling oil revenues

 

Once the cornerstone of Venezuela's economy and the source of funding for many of Chavez' social programs, global oil prices have plummeted, leaving Venezuela in dire financial straits -- especially as much of the country's output is of lower quality.

Venezuela isn't even averaging $30 a barrel on the oil they manage to ship because their oil is heavy and sour, which results in prices in the mid-teens when Brent and WTI are averaging significantly higher, Eric Smith, an associate director of the university's Tulane Energy Institute, said in an analysis piece for CNN.

The endgame of all this is bad news for Maduro, Smith says.

"We can probably expect regime change there."

Basics

The cash-strapped government can't even pay for basic imports such as sugar, flour and eggs. Many Venezuelans wait several hours in lines outside supermarkets, hoping shelves won't be emptied out by the time they arrive.

Reports of looting of staples like kitchen rolls, salt and shampoo -- even chicken and underwear -- throughout the country amid empty shops and soaring black market prices are a keen indicator of how desperate some have become.

Energy

Power outages are nothing new for Venezuelans. But with the government's recent announcement of a formal rolling blackout program set to last at least 40 days, things have only gotten worse, according to ordinary Venezuelans.

Maduro and other government officials blame the El Niño weather pattern and epic drought for the problem. The water level at the Guri hydroelectric dam, which provides 75% of Venezuela's electricity, is at a record low. Opposition figures blame mismanagement and corruption for the problems.

Healthcare

 

According to the Pharmaceutical Federation of Venezuela, the country is lacking roughly 80% of the basic medical supplies needed to treat its population.

And it's having a huge effect on locals. One, Jose Luis Vasquez, who was shot near his home by someone stealing his bike, has had to foot the bill for syringes, gauze and other necessities, and is even reduced to using a water gallon as a makeshift surgical drain to draw fluid from his lungs as he lies recuperating.

Some hospital workers believe medicines are being swiped from their facilities to be sold on the black market, as government rationing of medications has made even basics, like pain relievers, hard to come by.

CNN's Paula Newton and Natalie Gallon contributed to this report