Maduro's Exit Won't Kill His Regime

Venezuela's political opposition and its international allies are celebrating the apparent end of Nicolás Maduro's presidency. However, experts warn the system he built is designed to survive without him. Mr. Maduro lost the country's presidential election. His main opponent, Edmundo González, won by a large margin. Yet the future remains uncertain. The key institutions of state—the military, courts, and electoral council—remain under the control of Mr. Maduro's political party, the PSUV. This group, often called "Chavismo" after former leader Hugo Chávez, holds a firm grip on power. Analysts say the PSUV's deep control means it can likely maintain authority even with a new figurehead. The party may negotiate with the opposition to share some power, but the core structure of the state is unchanged. The coming weeks will test this theory. The focus now shifts to whether the PSUV will permit a true transfer of executive power, or if Mr. González will lead a government with limited actual control.