Argentine President Javier Milei addressed the Venezuelan people to boost their morale despite the rigged election results orchestrated by Nicolás Maduro’s regime. “The fraud carried out by the dictator Nicolás Maduro is nothing more than a Pyrrhic victory. He may think he has won a battle. However, the most important thing is that the Venezuelan lions have awakened, and sooner or later, socialism will end,” Milei said in a video posted on his social media channels.
In his message to the “heroic Venezuelan people,” the libertarian politician again criticized the socialist model of Chavismo and other dictatorships, which he consistently labels as “impoverishing.” “That impoverishing model will end because socialism is always and everywhere a murderous, hunger-inducing, and impoverishing phenomenon. So, cheer up, dear Venezuelans; you will move forward! Keep fighting, don't give up! Long live freedom, damn it!” expressed the Argentine leader.
Maduro's Self-Proclamation and International Reactions
The political climate in Venezuela has become more tense following Nicolás Maduro's declaration as the winner of the presidential election on Monday, a decision vehemently rejected by the opposition and denounced as fraudulent. Following the announcement by the Chavista electoral authority in Venezuela, a wave of protests and rejection erupted from the opposition and a significant portion of the population.
The Chavista National Electoral Council awarded dictator Nicolás Maduro 51.2% of the votes compared to 44.2% for candidate Edmundo González. Immediately, the opposition deemed the results fraudulent and not representative of the Venezuelan people's will.
María Corina Machado, leader of the opposition coalition, adamantly refused to acknowledge Maduro's victory. In a strong statement, Machado declared, "Venezuela has a new president-elect, and it is Edmundo González," referring to the opposition candidate she believes was the true winner of the election.
Among the most severe allegations of irregularities made by the opposition are vote manipulation, voter intimidation, and control of polling stations by forces loyal to Maduro's regime. These accusations have been the spearhead of the protests and mobilization of the opposition, demanding a thorough review of the vote count and the intervention of international observers to ensure the process's transparency.
The international community has closely followed the developments in Venezuela. Several nations and international organizations have expressed concern over the fraud allegations and called for peaceful dialogue between the parties. The United States, the European Union, and several Latin American countries have issued statements urging Maduro's government to allow an independent investigation into the alleged irregularities and respect the Venezuelan people's will.
Milei's Criticism of Socialism: From the 21st Century to 'El Moro'
In mid-December 2023, when libertarian economist Javier Milei assumed the presidency of Argentina, he delivered an inauguration speech asserting that socialism is a “model that has failed worldwide.” “Our leadership decided to abandon the model that made us wealthy and embraced the impoverishing ideas of collectivism,” Milei said to a large crowd celebrating the unexpected arrival of the former La Libertad Avanza deputy to the Casa Rosada.
In the presence of leaders from various countries and official delegations attending the inauguration, Milei asserted that this model “believes that a politician's job is to direct individuals' lives in all possible areas and spheres. A model that sees the State as a prize to be shared among friends.”
“For over a hundred years, politicians have insisted on defending a model that only generates poverty, stagnation, and misery. A model that believes citizens exist to serve politics and not that politics exists to serve citizens,” Milei argued. “That model has failed, it has failed worldwide, but it has especially failed in our country,” concluded the president.
Milei's victory has been labeled a "tremendous threat" to the Latin American region by Nicolás Maduro. In his weekly television program, Maduro denounced the supposed "colonial" nature of the newly elected leader and his alleged subservience to "North American imperialism."
“We will not remain silent because the arrival of a right-wing extremist, with a colonial project, utterly colonial, kneeling to North American imperialism, is a tremendous threat,” said the Chavista leader. According to the 21st-century Bolivarian socialist, Milei represents the Argentine "neo-Nazi right" seeking to lead a "colonial project" across Latin America and the Caribbean.
"We call for reflection on the emergence of far-right focal points that aim to re-colonize Latin America and impose extremist models. In Venezuela, they have not and will not succeed; Venezuela will continue to be a free and Bolivarian land," emphasized the heir of Hugo Chávez and pawn of the Cuban regime.
FAQs on Venezuelan Election Fraud and International Reactions
The following section addresses some frequently asked questions about the alleged election fraud in Venezuela and the subsequent international reactions.
What were the main allegations of election fraud in Venezuela?
The opposition accused the regime of manipulating votes, intimidating voters, and controlling polling stations through forces loyal to Nicolás Maduro.
How did the international community respond to the election results in Venezuela?
Several nations and international organizations, including the United States and the European Union, expressed concerns over the fraud allegations and called for an independent investigation and peaceful dialogue.