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
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In this webinar, we explored the Venezuelan regime's "package" of digital repression instruments, how they have evolved, and analyze how they have been used after the last presidential.
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Maduro's government calls for imprisonment of opponents in so-called ‘Operation Tun-Tun.’
Dear international left: Stop telling Venezuelans what to think
While their intentions to defend a Latin American movement are understandable, their silence years later on the egregious human rights violations in Venezuela is painful.
The Venezuela of Maduro, the inconvenient sister of Latin America's left
For years democratic leftist governments in Latin America maintained relations with Maduro's Venezuela despite its authoritarian tendencies. Will the year 2024 mark the end of such relations?
Venezuela: Everything you need to know about the precious tally sheets
Much is said about the tally sheets of the Venezuelan elections, but little is understood. Here's an explanation of these crucial ballots, where they are and who has them.
Key points in Venezuela's presidential elections: What's going on?
A lot is happening in Venezuela following the elections of July 28. Here's the context.
In a historic move, Venezuelans work together to expose Maduro's electoral fraud
It's the first time in Venezuela's history that an opposition candidate was able to obtain so many voting records. For many, this presents a damning case of fraud on Maduro's behalf.
Venezuela's civic space hangs in the balance with election results
The stakes are very high for civil society, as the civic space risks being completely shut down under a new Maduro administration.
The Law against Fascism that perpetuates authoritarianism in Venezuela
Repression and censorship: The Law against Fascism is Maduro's new card to continue consolidating his authoritarian model in a country that is waiting and yearning for democratic presidential elections.
Presidential elections in Venezuela: Less free than ever
As Venezuela's presidential election approaches on July 28, will the opposition be able to endorse a viable candidate? Will Maduro leave anyone who threatens him electorally out of the race?
How the Maduro government pays to promote propaganda and disinformation in Venezuela
The official propaganda of the government of Nicolás Maduro spreads thanks to the work of citizens who receive payments from the government to promote trends on social media
From discredit to censorship: When power attacks the Latin American press
With their campaigns against independent media, the governments of several Latin American countries are beginning to threaten press freedom.
