Part 5/10:
A cynical perspective argues that if Maduro's closest allies or military officials decide to abandon him, these individuals might not do so out of altruism but because they stand to benefit from a different arrangement. The entrenched loyalty of Maduro's inner circle and their involvement in illicit activities make it improbable that they would justify a democratic overhaul that—by necessity—might involve purging corrupt elements or possibly facing justice.