A disputed election marred by allegations of repression and fraud has paralyzed Venezuela and thrown the region into turmoil. How can the international community most effectively help? We bring you opinions on the situation in Venezuela from Pedro Urruchurtu, the coordinator of International Affairs Vente Venezuela, David Aragort, a member of DSLA and Juan Carlos Vargas, the general coordinator of the Latin American Network of Youth for Democracy.
Pedro Urruchurtu
Coordinator of international affairs, Vente Venezuela, Venezuela
David Aragort
Member of DSLA, co-founder and leadership representative at the Youth Liberty Congress, Venezuela
Juan Carlos Vargas
Chief coordinator, Juventud LAC – Latin American Youth Network for Democracy, Chile/Spain
Pedro Urruchurtu
Coordinator of international affairs, Vente Venezuela, Venezuela
The post-electoral context in Venezuela after July 28 is extremely complex. Nicolás Maduro's regime, having suffered a resounding loss, has resorted to repression and terror through state institutions to impose itself by force. The opposition managed to collect over 83.5% of the tally sheets with the help of Chavismo and the Armed Forces and digitized them on http://www.resultadosconvzla.com, setting a significant precedent in electoral transparency. Over a million volunteers made this possible, putting the regime against the ropes. As a result, the regime has resorted to unprecedented levels of repression. These tally sheets are as official as those from the electoral body and are copies issued by the official machines.
According to official figures, more than 2,000 people have been arbitrarily detained. 1,503 of these detentions have been verified by civil society, including 129 minors, 14 indigenous people, 18 individuals with disabilities or special needs, and at least 200 women. Most detainees have been transferred to overcrowded common-crime detention centers, facing conditions that threaten their lives and dignity. Additionally, there is persecution against electoral witnesses, who are sought at night by the regime's forces. If they are not found, their families are taken to force their surrender. The censorship of websites and applications like X, as well as the persecution of journalists, has also increased alarmingly. Opposition leaders, particularly Edmundo González Urrutia and María Corina Machado, have gone into hiding to avoid charges of terrorism and conspiracy. Despite this, they remain active and continue to attend the massive weekly protests.
Although the regime is trying to move forward by force, the international community, including allies like Colombia and Brazil, insists that the official National Electoral Council (CNE) tally sheets must be published and verified internationally. The regime has ignored this request, instead seeking validation from the Supreme Court of Justice without showing tally sheets. This has not been accepted internationally, and pressure is mounting for the regime to negotiate a transition to democracy, so that on January 10, 2025, Edmundo González Urrutia, as president-elect, can take office. This requires his victory and status to be recognized as soon as possible while advancing incentives and guarantees to compel the regime to relinquish power.
My personal situation remains the same. It has been five months since I sought asylum at the Argentinian Embassy in Caracas, now under Brazil's protection due to the expulsion of Latin American diplomats. We are still awaiting safe conduct, while the siege on the embassy, threats of forced entry, and service cuts are constant. But I remain firm and fighting, and would do it again because it is the right thing to do.
David Aragort
Member of DSLA, co-founder and leadership representative at the Youth Liberty Congress, Venezuela
On July 28, the Venezuelan opposition successfully consolidated a vote defense strategy focused on collecting sufficient evidence to demonstrate its electoral victory to the world. This evidence was found in the tally sheets generated by the voting machines of the CNE, which could be cross-referenced with the physical votes each party received at the polling stations. With the tally sheets recovered by the opposition's electoral witnesses, the team of candidate Edmundo González created a website where anyone can access the results from 83.5% of all polling stations, with their respective scanned tally sheets, enabling independent verification. These results have been analyzed by media outlets and international organizations, which have concluded that the CNE's reported results are questionable and that candidate Edmundo González secured more than 60% of the votes.
In the days following the election, government repression reached unprecedented levels. Over 20 people were killed during citizens’ demonstrations against the alleged fraud, and more than 1,300 arbitrary arrests have been confirmed since election day, including minors and individuals with disabilities, according to non-governmental organizations (NGOs). Those detained have been denied access to private attorneys, and many trials are being conducted via videoconference.
In addition to this repression, Internet censorship has intensified, with dozens of websites reported blocked since the start of the electoral campaign. Major social media platforms such as X (formerly known as Twitter) and Reddit, communication tools such as Signal and Microsoft Teams, at least 10 independent media outlets, three fact-checking organizations, four freedom of expression NGOs, and two VPN providers (tools used to circumvent Internet censorship) have been among those affected.
Given this situation, it is crucial for the democratic international community to maintain a unified stance on the following demands:
- The CNE must publish the election results for each polling station, and these results should be audited by impartial international organizations.
- Reject the intervention of the Venezuelan Supreme Court in the electoral process results, as it's not an impartial body, and its members have repeatedly demonstrated their loyalty to the ruling party.
- All political prisoners must be released, and persecution and repression in Venezuela must cease.
- All measures violating the rights to freedom of expression, access to reliable and timely information, and freedom of association, including Internet censorship, must stop.
- A governance and peaceful transition agreement must be signed, with guarantees for all political actors.
Juan Carlos Vargas
Chief coordinator, Juventud LAC – Latin American Youth Network for Democracy, Chile/Spain
The recent electoral process in Venezuela marked a historic milestone in the struggle for democracy in America. As one of the six international observers from the opposition who managed to enter the country, I witnessed firsthand the longing for change that mobilized millions of Venezuelans, who, despite numerous obstacles, chose Edmundo González as the next president. This victory not only represents a change in leadership but also the power of hope and the desire for a better future amidst a regime that has tried by all means to prevent the free participation of its people. I directly observed the repressive strategies of the regime, including the deportation of more than 55 international leaders from Caracas airport. These leaders, invited by the opposition, were arbitrarily expelled, demonstrating the regime's fear of international scrutiny. Despite this hostile environment, some of us managed to stay in Venezuela and witness the electoral process. Even with all the obstacles, such as repression, state manipulation, and the denial of voting rights to millions of Venezuelans abroad, the people mobilized peacefully. This movement, which exceeded expectations, shows that the popular will can prevail under the most difficult conditions. The victory of Edmundo González and María Corina Machado is, above all, a triumph for the Venezuelan citizens who remained steadfast in their fight for freedom and justice. This complex electoral process will serve as an example for democracies worldwide. It is a reminder that democracy is not a permanent state but an ideal that must be defended, especially against those who seek to undermine it. The peaceful resistance of Venezuelans is a lesson in courage and determination. However, the process of transition and the exit of Nicolás Maduro’s regime will not be easy or quick. This is where the real challenge lies today: the international community and democrats around the world must support the Venezuelan people on this difficult path, avoiding giving more oxygen to a dictatorship that has plunged the country into crisis. This support must go beyond words; it requires concrete and coordinated actions that strengthen democratic foundations and genuinely support those fighting for freedom. For years, the Venezuelan regime has acted with impunity, holding the future of millions hostage under a cloak of corruption and violence. The international community has failed to provide an effective response. Now is the time for real commitment to prevent the country from continuing in the grip of authoritarianism. González's election is a beacon of hope in a sea of darkness. But for this victory not to be fleeting, the free citizens of the world must unite in supporting the democratic cause, not only in Venezuela but in all nations where citizens' rights are being trampled. Only then can we guarantee a future where democracy, justice, and freedom prevail.
The views expressed in these works are the responsibility of its authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the Forum 2000 Foundation or its staff.
