Maduro seeks to shore up Venezuela military’s support ahead of vote threatening his hold on power

Associated Press

AGUA CALIENTE, Venezuela (AP) — Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro is working hard to shore up the loyalty of the armed forces and keep top commanders in line, days ahead of a hotly disputed election that threatens the self-proclaimed socialist’s hold on power. Since taking power in 2013, Maduro hasn’t hesitated to deploy troops to crush protests while rewarding senior officers with lucrative government jobs and control of key industries. But displeasure inside the barracks has become widespread as Venezuela’s economy has come off the rails in recent years, and some of the traditional perks enjoyed by military families have lost their luster.