Mr Maduro’s problem is that he has been busted. Everyone, from the army to his erstwhile left-wing Latin American allies, now knows just how unpopular he is. An overwhelming majority of Venezuelans voted against him on July 28th. Even though he barred the most popular opposition leader, María Corina Machado, from running, he still lost the election by a landslide. A little-known former diplomat, Edmundo González, stood in for Ms Machado. The two are working closely together.