In Venezuela, Juan Guaido calls on the IMF to fight against the coronavirus

In Venezuela, the government and the opposition appeal to the international community to fight the coronavirus. Juan Guaido declares that it is necessary to appeal to the IMF. Yuri CORTEZ / AFP

Text by: Benjamin Delille Follow

In Venezuela, the government and the opposition appeal to the international community to fight the coronavirus. Juan Guaido declares that it is necessary to appeal to the IMF. However, he had called this Wednesday, March 18, the institution to refuse the loan of 5 billion dollars requested by Nicolas Maduro, on the pretext that it "would finance corruption". Proof that without a political agreement, no help will be possible.

Publicity

Read more

From our correspondent in Caracas ,

Venezuela is not ready to deal with the coronavirus. Economists and health professionals keep repeating: after seven years of economic crisis, the health system is flat. According to political scientist Luis Vicente Leon, Venezuela is condemned if it does not receive international aid.

“ In the community of nations, Venezuela is the equivalent of a person at risk from coronavirus, he is a patient with immunodeficiency. So Venezuela needs help in the face of this crisis. Because its financial reserves are zero, "explains the political scientist.

Find common ground

On the one hand, the opposition is calling for humanitarian aid, on the other, the government wants to lift American sanctions. But like the $ 5 billion loan refused by the IMF, no aid will be granted if they cannot find common ground.

" Irrespective of the fact that Venezuela does not meet the criteria for obtaining funding, if the request came from a national political agreement between the opposition and the government, it is difficult to see how the problem of criteria could not not resolve, ”says Luis Vicente Leon.

For the political scientist, the fight against the coronavirus is an unexpected opportunity to find such an agreement. For once, despite their differences, the opposition and the government have a common enemy. They now lack awareness.

Newsletter With the Daily Newsletter, find the headlines directly in your mailbox

Subscribe

Download the app

google-play-badge_FR

  • Venezuela
  • Coronavirus
  • IMF

On the same subject

Coronavirus: concern in Haiti, also affected, due to its vulnerability

Brazil: Jair Bolsonaro declares coronavirus "public calamity"

Cuba says ready to face coronavirus epidemic, despite first cases