Nicolás Maduro and the strategy of the great clown

“Politics is like show business, but for ugly people,” Ronald Reagan, film actor and 40th President of the United States.

Maduro is experiencing the worst moment in his history. A $50 million bounty for his capture, nuclear vessels, F-35s, Reaper drones, and the world's largest warship have their sights set on him. In the face of the crisis, he's turning to theater to gain sympathy and connect with the people.

Ridendo dicere verum. Since ancient times, the Romans knew the humor of power and the power of humor. Their theaters were more famous than their theorists. Politicians knew that paying comedians was even useful for changing the narrative and reaching the people.

No war, yes peace. Maduro uses politainment, or politics as entertainment, to sell himself as a man of the people, a casual Cantinflas who mocks the powerful. A viral video that seeks to bury his crimes and bloody record.

The politician and the clown. Jeffrey Jones said that in the modern world, politics has become just another branch of popular entertainment. The lines between informing, entertaining, and politics have blurred. They've disappeared. That explains why Maduro is seething with rage over YouTube giving him a dishonorable discharge.

Chávez reincarnated as a little bird. "The little bird flew away, and I felt the spirit and blessings of Chávez were there," Maduro said in April 2013. The video went viral. It revealed that people prefer a clown to a politician.

An old but successful trick. Juan Domingo Perón said, "Sometimes a politician has to put on a bit of a circus show to get the people to listen, but he mustn't forget that he's not a clown, but a conductor." Maduro has discovered a gold mine and is exploiting it.

The power of comedy. Although Maduro is a petty tyrant, he knows the power of comedy. Recall that actor Volodymyr Zelensky won the Ukrainian elections with a landslide 72% thanks to his charisma and skillful use of humor.

Nicolas Maduro is not a comedian, he's a criminal. Venezuela isn't experiencing a happy ending, but rather a tragedy. Chavismo is a 26-year-old narco-regime that has committed crimes against humanity and forced more than 8 million people into exile.

The dangers of politeness.

Trivialization of serious issues. There's a risk of abandoning real debate, the search for truth, and informed decision-making. Let's laugh now and cry later. Let's not forget that Maduro doesn't take you to the theater; he takes you to the Helicoide. He's not a comedian, he's a criminal. He doesn't kill you with laughter; he kills you, kidnaps you, or makes you disappear.

Charisma over character. Dictators seek to win audiences, make people laugh, and divert attention from serious issues. Shouting louder or crying draws a lot of attention. All the circus and less bread. The sad thing is that this strategy often succeeds if it's not exposed in time. Although we've laughed out loud at Maduro's English skills in recent days, we shouldn't fall into his trap. His sketches aren't meant to entertain, but to deceive. All the humor is well-crafted and has a clear purpose: to win the media battle because he lost the other battle a long time ago.

*The author is an exiled journalist, former ambassador to the OAS, and former member of the Norwegian Peace Corps (FK). He is an alumnus of the National Defense University's Defense and Security Seminar and Harvard's Leadership program.