auntie: I think you'll find that all of those countries have multi-party systems and do hold elections, including North Korea with 5 parties. But the authoritarian nature of many make it difficult if not impossible for a non-communist party candidate to get elected - in North Korea only one candidate is on the ballot.

There is nothing in socialism that prohibits multi-parties and socialism and democracy go hand-in-hand. Capitalism has no use for democracy, it is tolerated, but would much prefer plutocracy (and often that is what we really have) - no surprise that a president gets elected without the majority of the vote under a predominantly capitalist system.

Yes what Maduro is doing in VZ with the judiciary, elected opposition and the constitution is leading to revolution. Any head of state who attacks judges who rule against him, suggests breaking up a circuit court, or says the constitution is "really a bad thing for the country" is heading towards authoritarianism and as in VZ, the people may find revolution the only solution.