Venezuelans live in fear and silence in a new country without Maduro

"Phones and social media were buzzing, but the curtains were drawn, and the few who ventured outdoors exchanged stunned glances without saying a word. The country awoke holding its breath: waiting, as it had so many times before. In supermarkets and gas stations, people spoke little and shopped quickly. Some secretly celebrated the arrest of Nicolas Maduro by the United States, toasting in hushed tones, sending audio messages that they promptly deleted."

"Venezuela is on pause. While Chavismo rushes to consolidate its power, Venezuelans remain paralyzed. Afraid to go out into the street. To speak out. Of running out of food. Of running out of gasoline. Of getting bombed again. Donald Trump's pressure campaign against the Maduro regime and the controversial incursion into Venezuelan territory to extradite him to the United States, where he faces drug trafficking charges, has left Venezuelansboth inside and outside the countryexhausted."

"After Maduro's removal, many sent audio messages to their families, which they immediately deleted, and went to bed thinking that, finally, change was imminent. That after almost three decades of Chavismo, they were turning the page. Mural on a street in Caracas, January 6.Maxwell Briceno (REUTERS) But, once again, change didn't happen. And Delcy Rodriguez's rise to power with Trump's blessin"

Morning silence followed the January 3 attack as Venezuelans stayed indoors, exchanged stunned glances, and avoided celebrations. Phones and social networks buzzed while curtains remained drawn. Initial private celebrations over Nicolas Maduro's arrest by the United States quickly faded as fear returned. Families deleted audio messages, avoided calls, and guarded conversations because of pervasive surveillance and the threat of arrest. Supermarkets and gas stations saw fast, quiet shopping amid anxiety about food and fuel shortages and possible renewed attacks. Chavismo moved to consolidate power even as citizens felt paralyzed and exhausted by repeated cycles of crisis and dashed hopes.

Read at english.elpais.com