Time for decision-making

Beyond legal considerations -thoroughly explained by experts and analysts, Venezuela has come to an odd, inconvenient operational standstill both in the private and public sectors due to the legal uncertainty that surrounds the current state of affairs. Not even the scenario outlined by President Hugo Chávez last December 8 is envisaged. In a nutshell, there is no president. In his stead, there are verbal reports on meetings, gatherings, government cabinets and even hour-long debates that translate into government instructions and guidelines allegedly issued by the President admitted to hospital.

Nobody knows for sure whether such reports are true or otherwise. Nobody has seen President Chávez, except for his close relatives. Legal uncertainty existed in the past, but it has mushroomed, even affecting debt operations to be performed by the government by reason of bilateral agreements with some countries.

We are going into the last month of the first quarter, and this unusual, blurred relationship between people and their top authority continues. With all due respect and consideration for the President, the country has become a sort of administrative brokerage that spawns more questions than answers.

Besides the President's absence, Venezuela is going through a difficult situation, from the point of view of economy and governance. Therefore, institutions need to be restored to normal. A country having serious intentions to reach acceptable levels of quality of life and development will never move forward amidst such a degree of uncertainty and insecurity.

It is time for decision-making.