Opposition leader once again says that there was fraud in the July 2024 elections and claims that Nicolás Maduro’s government is “vulnerable”
The leader of the opposition, María Corina Machado, called for a boycott of the elections in Venezuela until the president (United Socialist Party of Venezuela, left) leaves power.
In a video on social media on Sunday (19 January 2025), María Corina reinforced the allegation of fraud in the result of the July 2024 presidential elections and encouraged the population not to vote until the result was respected.
“Elections are about choosing and not about reinforcing tyranny. The elections were on July 28th, on this day the people chose and defeated the regime. The result must and will be respected. Until this result comes into force, you should not participate in elections of any kind. Going to vote once again without respecting the result is not respecting the vote, it is distorting the popular vote as a means of democratic struggle. Anyone who does not respect and defend the popular vote has no moral standing to ask for the popular vote again”, said the opposition leader.
Watch (5min53s):
Venezuelans,
This message, today January 19, is for EVERYONE:
– International allies: we Venezuelans decide to BE FREE; The time to act is NOW.
– Regime: understand once and for all that Venezuela IS NOT governable in a dictatorship.
– Those who want to be “with both…— María Corina Machado (@MariaCorinaYA)
According to the CNE (National Electoral Council), linked to the Chavista government, Maduro had 51.2% of the votes in the July 2024 elections against 44% for the opposition candidate Edmundo González (Democratic Unitary Platform, center-right). However, opponents claim that the president’s opponent would have won at the polls.
Corina said that “balance of power is changing” and stated that the Maduro regime feels increasingly vulnerable in the face of popular demonstrations against the president. She also called the current government “criminal” and said it was necessary “restore the validity of the national constitution”.
María Corina sent a direct message to the Venezuelan armed forces, which support Maduro’s election.
“We must understand that anyone who is not part of the solution is part of the problem. This applies to all Venezuelans, but especially to the military and police, who have the duty to defend our population, our constitution and our territory”, he exclaimed.
The opposition leader also declared that Maduro must promote a government transition “democratic and orderly”.
“The people of Venezuela were born to live in freedom and democracy. Maduro and anyone who supports this tyranny must be very clear about this. Facilitate change in a peaceful way, because no one can govern these courageous people in a dictatorial way”, these.
