For nearly two decades, Venezuela’s socialist government has maintained a façade. It proclaimed democracy and concern for social rights. In reality, it eroded civil, political and economic freedom. For a long time, “chavismo” deployed its disguise — and its petrodollars — to win sympathy at home and abroad. But when the government-controlled Supreme Court last week annulled the opposition-controlled Congress, claiming it was in contempt of the law, the mask fell. The true face of President Nicolás Maduro’s government was revealed: a deeply cynical authoritarian regime. The backlash to the legalistic coup engineered by the compliant Supreme Court was fierce. The opposition cried “dictator”, with justification: the National Assembly is the last independent institution remaining in Venezuela. Condemnation from longstanding international critics such as the US was swift. Mr Maduro had taken a step too far. Perhaps Mr Maduro thought he could mock the outcry as “fascist” rantings, as he has before. But then the UN, the EU and some Latin American countries that have previously been muted in their criticism, decried the move too. In a remarkable statement broadcast live on state television — until it was cut off — Venezuela’s attorney-general, a government stalwart, criticised the move. Together, the opposition’s fury, international condemnation and unprecedented public dissent by a senior official proved too much. On Friday night, Mr Maduro convened the so-called state security committee and asked the Supreme Court to re-consider. On Saturday, its judges complied (so much for separation of powers)