Diplomacy vital for democracy

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados - IT HAS OFTEN BEEN SAID that democracy thrives in a turbulent climate. It is also true that for it to function effectively there will be winners and losers, who must accept the verdict and the will of the majority of the people.
The situation in Venezuela is the latest example of the difficulty that could arise where party leadership is not prepared to accept the results of an election which could plunge a country into chaos and economic instability. Ideology also plays a pivotal role in most situations.
Former President Hugo Chavez’s hand-picked successor, Nicolas Maduro, won a razor-thin victory in Sunday’s special presidential election but the opposition candidate has refused to accept the result and demanded a full recount.