In Venezuela, a nation grappling with political turmoil and economic hardship, opposition supporters gathered in Caracas on August 28, 2024, to voice their dissent against President Nicolás Maduro. This demonstration marked exactly one month since the contentious July 28 election, which has been a source of significant controversy.
The opposition contends that their candidate, Edmundo González, secured a substantial victory, claiming he won by nearly a 2-to-1 margin. However, official results declared Maduro the winner, sparking international criticism over the election's lack of transparency. Venezuela, once the wealthiest nation in South America, has been mired in an economic crisis since 2013, with hyperinflation reaching a staggering 1,000,000% in 2018.
Protesters have consistently called for election officials to release detailed polling station data, which they believe would expose irregularities in the voting process. The opposition's slogan, "Voting records kill sentence," refers to the thousands of tally sheets they've made public online, which they assert contradict the Supreme Court's certification of Maduro's victory.
In response to the opposition's actions, Maduro's supporters planned counter-rallies, vowing to defend what they consider a legitimate electoral win. This political divide occurs against a backdrop of severe economic challenges, with Venezuela possessing the world's largest proven oil reserves yet experiencing critical shortages of food and medicine.
Concerns about potential government crackdowns have intensified following Maduro's appointment of Diosdado Cabello, a staunch ruling party figure, as interior minister on August 27. This move has raised fears of increased suppression, given that over 2,000 individuals, including journalists, politicians, and students, have already been arrested.
The ongoing crisis has prompted international attention. On August 28, the Organization of American States (OAS) convened a special meeting to discuss a report by the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) on human rights violations in Venezuela. It's worth noting that Venezuela withdrew from the OAS in 2019, amid escalating tensions with the international community.
"The commission condemns unequivocally practices of institutional violence in the context of the electoral process in Venezuela. Democracy and the rule of law must be restored."
The IACHR urged Venezuelan authorities to cease actions that "generate terror" among the population and to respect the citizens' desire for democratic change. This call comes as Venezuela faces numerous international sanctions and grapples with frequent power outages and infrastructure failures.
As the situation unfolds, over 6 million Venezuelans have fled the country since 2015, underscoring the severity of the crisis. The international community continues to monitor developments closely, emphasizing the need for a peaceful resolution to Venezuela's political and economic challenges.