"Don't repress the people, support them!" Maria Corina Machado and Edmundo Gonzalez's call to the security forces could cost them dearly. On Monday, August 5, the two Venezuelan opponents, who claim victory in the July 28 presidential election against incumbent President Nicolas Maduro, called on the military and police to "side with the people and their own families" by "upholding the election results." "The high command aligns itself with Maduro and his vile interests, while you are represented by those people who came out to vote," argues the text, signed by Gonzalez, "president-elect," and Machado, "leader of the democratic forces" of Venezuela.

The reaction was immediate: Three hours later, prosecutors opened a criminal investigation against the two opposition figures for "usurpation of functions, dissemination of false information to cause unrest, incitement to disobey the law, incitement to insurrection, association to commit crimes and conspiracy." Prosecutor General Tarek William Saab accused them of having "falsely announced a winner of the presidential election other than the one proclaimed by the National Electoral Council [CNE]," which attributed the victory to Maduro without providing proof.

On Tuesday, the defense minister, General Vladimir Padrino Lopez, surrounded by the entire general staff, reaffirmed the army's "absolute loyalty" to the government of Maduro, "re-elected by the people's power," and "firmly rejected the desperate and seditious declarations" of the two opponents. Television broadcast videos of the various regional military divisions uttering the same words.

To date, nothing seems to have shaken what the head of state calls the "perfect civilian-military-police union," a concept coined by his predecessor, Hugo Chavez (1999-2013). Himself a former lieutenant-colonel, Chavez took part in a coup attempt in 1992 before coming to power through the ballot box seven years later.

Convinced that the army's loyalty was essential to maintain his grip on power, Chavez appointed hundreds of military personnel to administrative posts, as well as to head state-owned companies. In addition to promoting numerous generals and admirals – including 100 in July and a further 17 on August 4 – Maduro has stepped up this strategy to ensure the loyalty of the troops. Today, the military doesn't just support the government, it's part of the government.

The regime's number two, Diosdado Cabello, is a former lieutenant. General Padrino has been defense minister for 10 years. Fourteen of the 33 ministers are active or retired military, making up 42% of the cabinet, according to the NGO Control Ciudadano. Whether it's foreign affairs, justice, oil, agriculture, transport, public works, trade, electric power or customs, the top brass are in charge of almost every strategic area of power.

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