Opposition leader Maria Corina Machado expressed that President Nicolas Maduro is becoming more isolated following a disputed election last month. Despite international condemnation and protests by opposition candidate Edmundo Gonzalez, Maduro was declared the winner of the July 28 vote. Machado reappeared at a demonstration in Caracas, waving the Venezuelan flag and emphasizing the importance of additional protests to apply pressure on Maduro. She acknowledged the challenges of removing Maduro from power but stressed that he is becoming more toxic and isolated with each passing day.
Following the protest on Wednesday, opposition figure Biaggio Pilieri was arrested. The opposition has been demanding the release of results from each polling station to expose alleged election fraud by Maduro. However, Maduro’s supporters are backing his victory and planning their own rallies to demonstrate support for him. The opposition’s ability to organize large rallies has been hampered by government crackdowns and arrests, potentially diminishing the hope of significant popular mobilization against Maduro’s regime.
The Venezuelan government has resisted calls from international leaders to release the vote tallies or hold a new election. Instead, Maduro has reshuffled his cabinet and promoted loyalists to key positions. Maduro came to power in 2013 after the death of left-wing leader Hugo Chavez and has faced multiple crises during his tenure, including economic hardships and accusations of authoritarianism. The United States and other Western allies recognized opposition leader Juan Guaido as the legitimate president of Venezuela in 2019, imposing sanctions that worsened the country’s economic situation and led to mass emigration.
The opposition had hoped that last month’s elections would provide a peaceful means of removing Maduro from power. However, Maduro swiftly declared victory, citing a 51 percent vote share, which was supported by the country’s electoral authorities. In contrast, the opposition released its own tally showing Gonzalez as the true winner by a significant margin. Despite the opposition’s efforts, Maduro remains in control and is bolstered by his supporters. The ongoing political turmoil in Venezuela has caused widespread concern both domestically and internationally, with no clear resolution in sight.
