Thousands of Venezuelans took to the streets this Saturday, both within the country and abroad, in a massive protest against the alleged electoral fraud committed by Nicolás Maduro in the recent elections. The demonstrations, held in various cities worldwide, aim to denounce the lack of transparency and demand recognition of the true winner, Edmundo González.
Opposition leader María Corina Machado addressed thousands of demonstrators who gathered at Plaza de Las Mercedes in Caracas, despite increasing repression, delivering a message of hope and resilience. “You are the heroes of this story. Every Venezuelan who didn’t give up knows we won. Edmundo González is the elected president, and our Venezuelan flag is the symbol of freedom. Venezuela will be free very soon,” she stated.
In another part of her speech, she added, “The people are with us. Be convinced that this goes beyond us. It’s a fight for good, for human dignity. We move forward with firmness, resilience, and confidence. We are united and know what we must do.”
Global Solidarity and Protests
The Saturday protests were not confined to Venezuela, where on Friday, Maduro was declared the winner despite the published results showing Edmundo González as the clear victor with over a 30-point lead. In Atlanta, a large crowd gathered to show support, proclaiming, “ATLANTA SHINES! There are 7,156,462 reasons to keep raising our voices alongside President-elect Edmundo González and leader María Corina Machado. We know we won; Venezuela won!”
In Miami, Venezuelans displayed their solidarity: “We remain united and stronger than ever! Venezuelans in Miami know that although they were prevented from voting, they won, and today they raise their voices for the more than 7 million who voted.”
From Berlin, protesters fervently sang the national anthem: “DOWN WITH CHAINS! Berlin is dressed in tricolor in support of Venezuela. We will prevail!”
In Argentina, specifically in Neuquén, Venezuelans also made their presence felt: “WE WON! and Venezuelans in Neuquén know it. With their hearts set on Venezuela, they support President-elect Edmundo González. We will prevail!”
The global mobilization will continue to denounce the electoral fraud and push for the restoration of democracy in Venezuela, protesters said. Meanwhile, international pressure is mounting to recognize the will of the Venezuelan people.
Several countries, including Argentina, Peru, Ecuador, Costa Rica, Uruguay, and the United States, have recognized González as the legitimate president-elect of Venezuela. Maduro, on the other hand, has unleashed severe repression, resulting in at least 17 deaths and over 1,000 arrests of protesters in recent hours.
Understanding the Venezuelan Electoral Crisis
To provide more insight into the ongoing situation in Venezuela, here are some frequently asked questions and their answers.
What triggered the massive protests in Venezuela?
The protests were triggered by the alleged electoral fraud committed by Nicolás Maduro in the recent elections, with demonstrators demanding recognition of Edmundo González as the true winner.
How has the international community responded to the situation in Venezuela?
Several countries, including Argentina, Peru, Ecuador, Costa Rica, Uruguay, and the United States, have recognized Edmundo González as the legitimate president-elect of Venezuela.
What has been Nicolás Maduro's response to the protests?
Nicolás Maduro has responded with severe repression, resulting in at least 17 deaths and over 1,000 arrests of protesters in recent hours.