Socialist Party support in Venezuela weakens after Maduro’s capture

Socialist Party support in Venezuela is showing visible cracks as distrust, internal divisions, and shrinking financial benefits undermine the ruling party’s grip on power following the capture of President Nicolás Maduro by U.S. forces.

In Maracaibo, Venezuela’s main oil-producing city, members of the ruling United Socialist Party (PSUV) conducted door-to-door visits weeks after Maduro’s removal to assess loyalty among registered supporters. According to one organizer, roughly half of those contacted said they no longer supported the party.

“The response is very bad,” the organizer said. “There is division among us.”

Reuters could not independently verify the canvassing results. However, interviews conducted in three other regions reflected similar patterns of declining support and internal strain.

Fractures Spread Across the Party Base

Reuters spoke with 13 PSUV members and local leaders across four states, all of whom described growing fractures within the party. Many expressed uncertainty about their political future and deep concerns about economic stability.

Several sources said the government’s long-standing patronage system which relied on food parcels, bonuses, and financial incentives to secure loyalty has weakened since Maduro’s capture. Five sources confirmed that some benefits and contributions had stopped entirely.

Eight party members reported declining participation at the local level. Two estimated that attendance at marches and meetings had dropped by as much as 70%.

Rising Distrust and Fear of Reprisals

Six interviewees described growing suspicion among party loyalists, particularly toward interim President Delcy Rodríguez. Several said local leaders encouraged members to report colleagues suspected of losing faith in the party, a tactic long used to suppress dissent.

All sources requested anonymity due to fear of retaliation. Reuters withheld identifying details to protect their safety.

There are no recent public figures on PSUV membership. While declining participation was reported across geographically distant states, Reuters could not assess conditions nationwide. Media restrictions and fear of reprisals continue to limit open reporting in Venezuela.

Leadership Under Pressure

The Venezuelan government and the PSUV did not respond to Reuters’ requests for comment.

Since Maduro’s removal, Rodríguez has repeatedly called for national unity and framed the crisis as a threat to Venezuela’s sovereignty. She has also pledged economic recovery while denouncing Maduro’s detention as a kidnapping.

At the same time, Rodríguez has moved to comply with U.S. demands to reopen Venezuela’s oil sector to American companies. She has also met with the CIA director to discuss cooperation against drug trafficking.

Analysts say weakening Socialist Party support in Venezuela could complicate Rodríguez’s efforts to consolidate power. Reuters has previously reported that she faces internal rivalry from Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello, who leads the PSUV and maintains close ties to security forces and pro-government colectivos.

A Party at a Crossroads

As desertions grow and economic incentives fade, the ruling party faces one of its most serious internal challenges in decades. Whether the PSUV can maintain cohesion without Maduro and without the patronage system that sustained loyalty remains uncertain.