In the heart of Caracas, Venezuelan opposition supporters gathered on Wednesday to protest against President Nicolas Maduro’s re-election, a victory that has been widely denounced as fraudulent by both domestic and international actors. Chanting “Liberty!” and expressing their deep frustration, the crowd was led by their charismatic leader, Maria Corina Machado, who emerged from hiding to reignite the movement against Maduro’s authoritarian rule.
Maria Corina Machado, a seasoned opposition figure who has been a thorn in Maduro’s side for years, had maintained a low profile since the presidential election a month ago. This cautious approach was necessitated by the threats she faced from Maduro’s regime, which has been increasingly hostile toward dissent. However, on Wednesday, she chose to confront the regime head-on, addressing her supporters with a vow to continue the fight until the opposition’s claim to victory is recognized.
“They say that the regime will not yield. You know what: we are going to make it yield, and that means respecting the will expressed on July 28,” Machado declared, her words resonating with a crowd of hundreds gathered in an atmosphere charged with both hope and fear. Her message was clear: the opposition would not back down, and their struggle for a free Venezuela would continue despite the dangers they faced.
Machado’s arrival at the demonstration was emblematic of the precarious situation she and other opposition leaders find themselves in. Wearing a black hoodie to conceal her identity, she only revealed her face when she climbed onto the truck that served as her stage. Her bold act of defiance was met with chants of “Brave! Brave!” from the crowd, a testament to the deep respect and admiration she commands among her supporters.
The opposition’s grievances stem from the highly contentious presidential election held on July 28, in which Maduro claimed victory with 52 percent of the vote. However, the legitimacy of this result has been called into question by a broad coalition of domestic and international observers. Venezuela’s CNE electoral council, which is heavily dominated by Maduro loyalists, declared him the winner just hours after the polls closed. Crucially, they provided no full breakdown of the voting data, fueling suspicions of electoral fraud.
In contrast, the opposition has published its own records from polling stations, asserting that their candidate, Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia, won the election by a landslide. Gonzalez Urrutia, a 74-year-old retired diplomat, was a late replacement for Machado on the ballot after the regime barred her from running. The opposition’s data has been met with skepticism from the CNE, which has refused to release its own data, citing a mysterious computer hack as the reason for the delay. Election observers, however, have found no evidence to support the CNE’s claims of a hack, further undermining the credibility of Maduro’s re-election.
The international community has been vocal in its criticism of the election process and the subsequent crackdown on dissent. Several Latin American countries, along with the United States and the European Union, have called on the CNE to release the voting data that would substantiate Maduro’s victory. However, their calls have been met with silence from the Venezuelan government, which remains defiant in the face of growing international isolation.
In the days following Maduro’s claimed victory, spontaneous protests erupted across Venezuela, leading to violent confrontations between demonstrators and security forces. At least 25 civilians have been killed, and more than 2,400 have been arrested in the ensuing crackdown. The situation has only worsened as the opposition continues to organize rallies to denounce what they see as a stolen election.
Wednesday’s rally in Caracas was the fourth organized demonstration by the opposition since the election. Despite the risks, Machado urged her supporters to remain steadfast, telling them, “We have to protect ourselves, take care of ourselves… Every passing day we are making progress… We have succeeded in turning the cause for freedom in Venezuela into a global cause.”
As the opposition fights for recognition, Maduro has taken steps to further consolidate his power. On Tuesday, he reshuffled his cabinet, appointing two of his closest allies to key positions. Diosdado Cabello, the second-most powerful figure in the ruling United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV), was named interior minister, putting him in charge of policing and security matters. Vice President Delcy Rodriguez was appointed as the new oil minister, a crucial role in a country that possesses the world’s largest crude reserves but whose industry has been crippled by US sanctions.
These appointments signal Maduro’s intent to tighten his grip on the country’s political and economic institutions, even as he faces mounting opposition both at home and abroad. The ruling “Chavista” movement, named after Maduro’s socialist predecessor Hugo Chavez, also held its own rally on Wednesday to celebrate what they claim as a legitimate victory. “Our president is Nicolas. Here nobody surrenders, the people have won,” declared Atenai Figueroa, a supporter at the pro-Maduro rally.
The opposition’s struggle is not just confined to the streets but is also playing out in the courts, where Maduro-aligned prosecutors have launched a campaign of legal harassment against opposition leaders. Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia, who has largely remained out of the public eye since the election, has ignored multiple summonses for questioning in an investigation into his role in publishing the election results. The charges against him, which include “usurpation” of official powers, disseminating false information, and incitement to insurrection, carry a potential 30-year sentence.
Machado, too, is under threat. Maduro has called for her arrest along with Gonzalez Urrutia, accusing them of undermining the state. The regime’s crackdown has extended to other opposition figures as well. On August 28, the opposition claimed that one of its senior members, ex-lawmaker Biagio Pilieri, was arrested shortly after appearing at the rally with Machado. This followed Machado’s accusation a day earlier that the regime had “kidnapped” her lawyer.
The regime’s repressive tactics have led to a surge in political prisoners in Venezuela. Foro Penal, a human rights NGO, reported on Wednesday that there are now 1,780 political prisoners in the country, the highest number in the 21st century. Alarmingly, 114 of these prisoners are teenagers.
The future of Venezuela remains uncertain as the standoff between the opposition and Maduro’s regime continues to escalate. The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, meeting in Washington, condemned the “violent repression, arbitrary detentions, and political persecution” in Venezuela. However, despite growing international condemnation, Maduro shows no signs of relinquishing power.
As Maria Corina Machado and her supporters vow to continue their fight for freedom, the question remains: how long can the opposition sustain its struggle against an increasingly authoritarian regime? The answer may determine the fate of Venezuela for years to come.
