Machado calls for protests “inside and outside Venezuela” – DW – 11/23/2024

The Venezuelan opposition, led by María Corina Machado and Edmundo González Urrutia, called this Saturday (11/23/2024) for “massive” protests on December 1 against Nicolás Maduro, who is expected to be sworn in as president again in January. Making plans. Chosen amid complaints of fraud.

“We have to act now, this is going to be the first unique, unprecedented protest, our hands are red, with courage (…) The whole world is going to focus on the issue of a country that has refused to move forward. The decision has been taken to the end, Machado said in a virtual meeting with opposition leaders and activists.

Let this be “a big protest inside and outside Venezuela,” said the rival, who is in hiding after threats from the regime to take him to jail. Machado also promised “harder, more decisive” action before January 10, the day Venezuela’s president is sworn in.

Machado and his candidate González Urrutia condemned fraud in the July 28 elections, when the National Electoral Council (CNE) declared Maduro the winner without showing a detailed investigation of the vote.

Dead, in custody, in hiding and in exile

The opposition claimed González Urrutia’s victory by ensuring that they had copies of 80% of the minutes demonstrating his victory and broadcast them on a website. Protests erupted and 28 people were killed, 200 were injured and more than 2,400 were detained.

The government rejected the ballots and said they were forged, the prosecutor’s office announced investigations against opposition leaders and requested the arrest of González Urrutia.

Demonstrations died down amid reports of a “wave of repression” that led to many activists and opposition leaders being detained or put into hiding.

González Urrutia was forced into exile in Spain, but promised that he would be sworn in as President of Venezuela on January 10. “There is no doubt about it,” he reiterated in the virtual meeting.

The opposition expects international pressure on the Maduro regime to increase after countries such as the United States, Italy and Ecuador recognized González Urrutia as “elected president”.

RR (AFP/EFE)