Venezuela returns to the streets: new day of global protests against Maduro

Opposition leader Maria Corina Machado and Edmundo Gonzalez wave as they address supporters after election results gave Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro a third term in office, in Caracas, Venezuela July 30, 2024 - REUTERS/GABY ORAA

Marta Dorgambide

27 de agosto de 2024 (13:24 h.)

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The opposition, led by María Corina Machado, is calling for a worldwide mobilisation on Wednesday to denounce the re-election of Nicolás Maduro

The Venezuelan opposition, led by prominent leader María Corina Machado, has once again called on citizens to take to the streets on Wednesday 28 August in protest against the re-election of Nicolás Maduro. According to RCN, this mobilisation, which coincides with the first month since the controversial presidential election, seeks to make visible the disagreement with the official results that, according to Machado and her followers, do not reflect the true will of the Venezuelan people.

The call, disseminated through social networks, urges Venezuelans to participate en masse in this protest, which will not only take place on Venezuelan territory, but also in various cities around the world. ‘This August 28; with your family, with your children, with your grandchildren and with your certificate in hand,’ Machado wrote on her X account (formerly Twitter), accompanied by an image with the slogan “Take to the streets on the 28th”.

The aim of these demonstrations is to denounce the alleged irregularities that, according to the opposition, marred the 28 July election process, in which the National Electoral Council (CNE) declared Maduro's victory. The opposition insists that the real winner was Edmundo González Urrutia, based on copies of electoral records which, they claim, prove Maduro's defeat.

This aerial view shows thousands of people attending a protest called by the opposition to recognise the election victory, in Caracas on 17 August 2024 - AFP/JUAN BARRETO

Despite demands for transparency and evidence presented by the opposition, the Supreme Court of Justice (TSJ) has upheld the validity of the results issued by the CNE, prompting a wave of criticism and accusations of interference from the opposition. In a statement, María Corina Machado recalled that sovereignty resides in the people and that this power is exercised directly through suffrage, as established in the Venezuelan Constitution. She also criticised the TSJ for intervening in matters that, according to her, fall exclusively within the competence of the CNE.

In a video posted on her social networks, Machado reaffirmed the call for this Wednesday, stressing the importance of Venezuelans mobilising. ‘Acta mata a sentencia y por eso nos vemos este miércoles 28 de agosto en las calles’, she said, stressing that this demonstration is not only an opportunity to demand the victory of González, but also to show support for political prisoners and victims of the regime's repression.

The atmosphere in Venezuela is one of great tension, with the opposition determined not to relent in its fight for the legitimate and inalienable right of the people. In a context where the political crisis has deepened and state institutions are under questioning, the streets have become the main stage of a resistance that shows no signs of exhaustion. The protest on 28 August is presented not only as a new demonstration of resistance and unity, but also as an act of defiance against a government that, according to its critics, has lost the confidence and support of a significant majority of the population.

Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado had called for mass rallies in more than 300 cities in Venezuela and abroad to intensify pressure on Maduro to recognise what she says was an overwhelming opposition victory in the 28 July presidential election - AFP/ JAIME SALDARRIAGA

The opposition's insistence on mobilising its supporters, both at home and abroad, underlines its determination to keep the struggle for democracy and civil rights alive. This global call not only seeks to denounce the irregularities of the electoral process, but also to send a strong message to the Maduro regime and the international community: the Venezuelan people will not accept what they consider an illegitimate imposition.

Moreover, the protest represents an effort to maintain cohesion among the various sectors that make up the opposition, showing a unity that, despite the challenges, remains essential in its strategy to exert pressure on the government. María Corina Machado's call highlights the importance of this unity at a critical moment, where each demonstration becomes a symbol of the resilience of the Venezuelan people in the face of repression and adversity.

The success of this day of protests could be a key indicator of the opposition's ability to mobilise and maintain the necessary momentum to continue challenging the regime. However, it also raises questions about the response of the Maduro government, which in the past has resorted to drastic measures to contain dissent. In any case, this 28 August could mark a turning point in the struggle for Venezuela's future, with the hope that the voice of the people, expressed in the streets, will finally be heard and respected.