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Who Stole the Venezuelan Election? Digging Into Dictatorship and Democracy
Hour-long lines at polling stations are a direct result of oppressive voting restrictions. Final results rolled in by midnight despite these roadblocks. This is a testament to the unwavering spirit of democracy, and a victory for the people of Venezuela over authoritarianism.
Published July 29, 2024 at 9:07am by Isabela Ocampo
Venezuela: A Country in Crisis as Maduro Clings to Power
Another Stolen Election, Another Exodus
Venezuela's future hangs in the balance as Nicolás Maduro clings to power, aided by a corrupt system that silences the will of the people. On Monday, after hours-long lines and a farcical voting process, Maduro was declared the winner of Venezuela's presidential election. This comes as no surprise, given the authoritarian grip Chavismo has had on the country for the past 25 years.
Serious concerns that the result announced does not reflect the will or the votes of the Venezuelan people. - U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken
The opposition party and the international community widely disputed the election results. Venezuela has been in a downward spiral since Hugo Chávez took office in 1998, with his successor Maduro tightening the authoritarian rule and driving the country into economic collapse. The result? The largest displacement crisis ever recorded in the Western Hemisphere, with more than 7.7 million people fleeing.
Florida and Texas have become home to a significant number of Venezuelan immigrants, with the Houston and Dallas metropolitan areas housing a large portion of the over 100,000 Venezuelans in the Lone Star State, according to a report by the Migration Policy Institute.
This election was supposed to be different. Venezuelans both at home and abroad dared to hope that change was on the horizon, that they could finally break free from the oppressive regime that has caused so much suffering. But once again, their hopes have been dashed. The re-election of Maduro is a stark reminder that Venezuela's democracy is a fragile construct, easily manipulated by those in power.
As we watch from the sidelines, let us not forget the human cost of this political theater. Millions of Venezuelans are paying the price for a corrupt regime's greed and ambition. With Maduro's grip tightening, we can only expect this crisis to deepen, and the Venezuelan diaspora to grow.
Stand with Venezuelans, Hold Dictators to Account
Read more: Who won the Venezuelan election? Here's a quick overview