2024-09-12 19:18:37
Thirty days before the presidential elections, marked by accusations of fraud by international organizations, Venezuela remains mired in a political and social crisis that has triggered international isolation and the persecution of opponents of the Maduro regime.
On July 28, Venezuela experienced one of the most controversial presidential elections in recent times in South America, since the process was marked by allegations of fraud and vote manipulation by the opposition and international organizations, which increased after it was ratified the supposed triumph of Nicolás Maduro.
A month after this episode, the country remains embroiled in a political and social crisis that has led to its isolation from the rest of the world, since Except for a handful of countries – such as Russia, Nicaragua or Cuba – the rest of the nations and historical allies of Caracas, among which Brazil, Mexico and President Gabriel Boric himself stand out, have turned their backs on him. to Venezuela due to the lack of transparency seen at the polls and where the National Electoral Council has not yet published the official records.
This caused, for example, The Carter Center, authorized by Maduro to monitor the elections, declared the opposition candidate Edmundo González the winner and reject the regime’s position that an alleged computer attack had prevented access to documents validating the president’s continued presence in power.
Persecutions and protests: daily life in Venezuela
Faced with this scenario, Opposition demonstrations, led by Maria Corina Machado, have multiplied, after the voting records that would confirm Edmundo González’s victory were released online, but also political persecution led by the Maduro regime.
In this way, the so-called “knock-knock campaign” arose, where supporters of the government denounce those they consider to be opponents so that they can be arrested, in response to which the Penal Forum has already counted at least 1,700 detainees in the last 30 days alone, which was described as “the highest number of political prisoners in the history of Venezuela in the 21st century.”
However, this situation is expected to worsen after the appointment of Diosdado Cabello, the number two in Chavismo, as Minister of the Interior, since he will have the Armed Forces and the Police under his wing.
Thus, María Corina Machado denounced that, after the massive demonstration held on Wednesday, August 28, one of her closest collaborators was arrested. and a member of the Edmundo González command, Biagio Pilieri and his son Jesús, who are recorded as being held in the feared Helicoide prison.
This, while Nicolás Maduro led a rally in Caracas to celebrate his victory, dedicating harsh words to Machado, whom he accused of being part of a “satanic pact” with the owner of X, Elon Musk, one of his staunchest detractors.
“She knows that she is part of a circle, a satanic pact with the gringos. With the satanic church of California and Detroit. And one of the members of the satanic pact is Elon Musk. Thirty days later, where is Elon Musk? Knock out. The people of Venezuela knocked out Elon Musk,” Maduro said.