Over two years into a deep economic crisis that shows no sign of abating, the Venezuelan government is preparing to save itself — and the ideology it stands for — by any means necessary. After all, "socialism of the 21st century," as former President Hugo Chavez dubbed Venezuela's particular brand of political philosophy, can survive only if the parties that advocate it do too. And with its approval ratings plummeting alongside the economy, the ruling United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV) cannot afford to gamble with its future ahead of approaching regional and presidential elections. As it stands, only a third of Venezuelan voters can be counted on to support the current government at the polls. President Nicolas Maduro's administration has managed to delay gubernatorial elections since mid-2016, but pushing them off any longer would invite the risk of international sanctions — particularly from the new administration in Washington.