Venezuelan officials have expropriated the family home of opposition leader Leopoldo López in Caracas, turning the seized property into a state-run social program for the elderly. The move, celebrated with a ribbon-cutting ceremony by the regime of Nicolás Maduro, highlights the ongoing crackdowns on political dissidents in the country.
On The Bulwark Podcast, host Tim Miller read from a striking op-ed by Leopoldo López detailing the painful moment his family witnessed the seizure: "My children and I watched a video on a phone screen last week. Venezuelan officials cut a ribbon at what used to be our home in Caracas. They were applauding, announcing a social program for the elderly." Miller noted that Leopoldo López was trying to offer a "wake-up call" to the world, reminding listeners that the judges who presided over his political imprisonment "are still on the bench."
While international observers continue to debate the efficacy of sanctions and diplomatic pressure against Caracas, this latest seizure underscores the regime's complete disregard for private property and political opposition. With the judiciary still firmly controlled by Nicolás Maduro-aligned judges, Venezuelan dissidents face an uphill battle to reclaim their stolen lives, let alone their homes.