Photo by Drea tuka/Flickr CC BY-NC-ND 2.0
Venezuela's 2024 presidential elections were a pivotal moment in the nation's ongoing struggle for democracy. After polls closed on July 28, national electoral authorities reported that incumbent president Nicolás Maduro secured 51.2 percent of the vote, while the opposition coalition, led by María Corina Machado and candidate Edmundo González Urrutia, garnered 44 percent. Allegations of widespread fraud, including vote tampering, voter intimidation, and arrests of opposition leaders, marred the election.
The electoral authorities are not adhering to the electoral rules, as they have not published the tally sheets that would confirm Maduro’s victory. In contrast, the opposition, with significant help from volunteer citizens, has managed to retrieve and publish 81 percent of the digitized results as of the time of writing. According to this data, Edmundo González Urrutia won with more than 67 percent of the votes – more than a 30 percent lead on Maduro.
The elections saw heightened enthusiasm among Venezuelans from various societal sectors, driven by a desire for change amid state corruption and a severe economic, social and humanitarian crisis under Maduro’s governance. Nearly 8 million Venezuelans are displaced worldwide, primarily in Latin America and the Caribbean.
However, this enthusiasm was met with increased repression in the lead-up to the election, with the government cracking down on civil society organizations, media, and opposition figures. After the publication of Maduro’s alleged win, protests erupted nationwide, demanding the government publish their voting tallies, leading to clashes with security forces, resulting in dozens of injuries and deaths, and hundreds of arrests.
International reactions varied. Allies such as Bolivia, Nicaragua, Honduras, Cuba, Russia, and China recognized the results. On the other hand, the United States, the European Union, Mexico, Colombia, and Brazil called for more transparency in the results, with varying degrees of reprimand.
Ongoing state violence illustrates the regime's determination to maintain power. Despite these challenges, the high turnout and vocal demands for democracy reflect a resilient spirit among Venezuelans, striving for a better future amid adversity.
Stories about Venezuela's fight for democracy from October, 2024
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