America really might restore democracy to Venezuela

When President Donald Trump sent American special forces to snatch Venezuela’s dictator, Nicolás Maduro, in January, it did not sound as though restoring democracy was his priority. He boasted endlessly about how he now controlled Venezuela’s oil, while barely mentioning the country’s political future. He installed as interim president Delcy Rodríguez, the deposed despot’s widely hated deputy. Many worried that without a strong American commitment to a democratic transition, the old, brutal kleptocracy would carry on.An initial round of negotiations between Venezuela’s regime and figures from the opposition ended on August 12th (REUTERS)Yet the prospects for democracy in Venezuela seem to be improving. This is not because Mr Trump has suddenly developed a passion for the subject. It is bec