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KT edit: Ballot should decide who will rule Venezuela

Come to think of it, people certainly deserve much better than this in a country that has the world's largest reserves of oil.

Venezuela is a classic example of what rampant corruption, misrule and lack of reforms can do to a country. Once counted among the richest in Latin America, the country is now in economic ruins. More than 80 per cent of its population has been pushed into poverty as sky-high food and medical inflation has made life extremely difficult. To put things in perspective, economy has halved in the last five years, and the International Monetary Fund predicts inflation could hit a staggering 10,000,000 per cent this year.
More than three million Venezuelans have already packed their bags and fled overseas in recent years to escape the chronic insecurity that plagues lives all across Venezuela. The rest are out on the streets, protesting, demonstrating, holding onto feeble hopes that fresh and fair elections will be conducted and change will come. After all, it is their legit right in a democracy they call their home.
Come to think of it, people certainly deserve much better than this in a country that has the world's largest reserves of oil. Six years of Nicolas Maduro's presidency has brought nothing but misery. Another six would be unimaginable. Since taking power he has been accused of undermining democracy and violating human rights. People see hope in Juan Guaido, a 35-year-old engineer turned  politician who declared himself interim president last month. He has the support of his people and more than 20 nations that have branded Maduro's presidency illegitimate. These countries are demanding the exit of a president who has led the oil-rich South American nation into an economic collapse and humanitarian crisis. But Maduro refuses to back out, and has defiantly rejected the EU's deadline for snap elections.
Sanctions by the US might drive Maduro up the wall, but he is known for using aggression to cling on to power. Backing of the army has helped and so has support of allies such as Russia, China, Turkey, and Cuba. It is now up to the US, European nations and other countries to use diplomacy to bring change. It is indisputable that change of guard is needed in Venezuela, sooner than later, and it should come though the power of the ballot. A peaceful exit for Maduro should be negotiated, and only concerted diplomacy can ensure that.