International
The cry of “freedom” of thousands of Venezuelans resounds in various cities of America
Thousands of Venezuelans took to the streets this Saturday in various cities of America in “defense of the truth” and urged the Governments of Brazil, Colombia and Mexico to take a clear position and pressure so that the National Electoral Council, which declared Nicolás Maduro re-elected president, to announce the disaggregated results of the elections of July 28, which according to the majority opposition, Edmundo González Urrutia won.
From Canada to Argentina, these demonstrations take place in a context of great political tension, where the opposition denounced an “electoral fraud” in an election in which the majority of the diaspora could not participate in the face of bureaucratic obstacles, another of the great complaints of the thousands of Venezuelans against the Maduro Government.
The global marches were called by Venezuela’s largest opposition alliance, the Platform of Democratic Unity (PUD), led by María Corina Machado, to claim the truth of victory in the presidential elections.
In Brazil, Colombia and Mexico, Venezuelans and many local citizens, who marched in solidarity, criticized the position of the governments of these three countries, close to Maduro, which have adopted varied and changing positions regarding the crisis in Venezuela, while they have tried to make medication arrangements to provide a peaceful way out of the crisis.
The president of Brazil, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, whose party was one of the first to recognize Maduro’s triumph, has hardened his speech in recent days in the face of the official result of the presidential elections.
Both Lula and the president of Colombia, Gustavo Petro, have put forward several proposals. The Brazilian proposed two solutions – the formation of a coalition government that integrates members of Chavismo and the opposition or the holding of new elections – and the Colombian suggested a “national front” as a “transitory” step towards a “definitive solution” to the crisis.
These alternatives have already been rejected by Chavismo and the opposition, both sides defend their victory in the presidential elections.
For Lorena Lara, a 44-year-old Venezuelan who has been living in Brazil for 17, the proposal “does not make sense” because the elections were already held “with the rules of the Government” and it has not yet “proved” the results published by the National Electoral Council and that gave the victory to Maduro.
While President Andrés Manuel López Obrador reiterated that Mexico’s position is to “wait” for what the electoral court resolves and criticized the governments and international organizations that have recognized González Urrutia’s victory.
“The position of the president of Mexico is a position, let’s say, like Pontius Pilate, it’s like wanting to save himself from giving an opinion that can then create a compromise, we don’t know what his reasons are,” Venezuelan dentist and university professor Juan Carlos Vielma told EFE.
Carrying flags, dressed in the colors of the national flag and with the printed ballots that, according to them, show that González Urrutia was the winner of the elections, many Venezuelans maintain “alive hope” that there will be freedom in their country, which they long for to returning soon.
In Colombia, Ana Ángela Jugo, who left Venezuela in 2019 after “a series of blackouts” in which they lasted several uninterrupted days without electricity and endangered the work with which she kept her family, said that her desire is to return, like that of many of the eight million Venezuelans who have left the country to other parts of America in recent years motivated by the economic crisis above all, but also by opposition to the Venezuelan Government.
Shouting “enough is enough!”, Venezuelans in Chile demanded that Maduro show all the minutes of the elections and leave power.
One of the organizers of the Toronto march, Rebeca Sarfatti, told EFE that the congregated represented “the democratic will of the Venezuelans of the world who passionately” want the end of the Maduro regime.
“I want to be recognized internationally and not to leave us alone. Don’t turn your back on us. Those elections in Venezuela were manipulated. Edmundo won,” Génesis Pernia, one of the Venezuelans present in the massive march and resident in Panama for almost a decade, told EFE.
In the rest of the main capitals of the world, thousands of Venezuelans also demonstrated as a show of strength and unity against the “fraud” that they say the Maduro Government committed in the presidential elections.
The surprise of the day took place in Caracas, the epicenter of the worldwide call of the PUD, with the reappearance of María Corina Machado before thousands of her followers, after spending several days “in protection” for her safety.
On the eve of the marches, twenty-two countries and a group of nations of the European Union asked for the “immediate publication of all the original minutes” of the elections and the “impartial and independent” verification of the results of those elections, according to a statement signed in Santo Domingo this Friday.
In addition, the Permanent Council of the Organization of American States (OAS) approved by consensus a resolution that requires the authorities of Venezuela to publish the “expitently” of the election minutes, which Venezuelans have been waiting for almost a month ago.
The non-binding text was presented on behalf of the United States and Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Canada, Chile, Ecuador, Guatemala, Paraguay, the Dominican Republic, Suriname and Uruguay as co-sponsors.
International
U.S. Targets Members of Outgoing Boric Administration With Visa Revocations
The United States government announced on Friday the revocation of visas for three Chilean officials—whose identities were not initially disclosed—citing activities that allegedly “undermined regional security,” an accusation that Chile denies.
In a statement, the U.S. Department of State did not provide specific details about the individuals involved but criticized the outgoing administration of leftist President Gabriel Boric.
“The legacy of the Boric government will be further tarnished by actions that undermine regional security to the ultimate detriment of the Chilean people,” the statement read. It was signed by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
Chile’s Minister of Transport, Juan Carlos Muñoz, later confirmed in a video message to the press that he is among those sanctioned.
“I was recently informed that my visa to enter the United States has been revoked by that country, which I deeply regret,” Muñoz said.
The U.S. statement also noted that Washington hopes to “advance shared priorities, including those that strengthen security in our hemisphere, with the upcoming Kast government.”
The electoral victory of ultraconservative leader José Antonio Kast was welcomed in Washington, which has been building alliances with like-minded governments in the region to reinforce its diplomatic and economic agenda—particularly in response to China’s growing investment presence in Latin America.
“We remain committed to promoting accountability for Chilean individuals who deliberately work to destabilize our hemisphere,” the statement concluded.
International
Three Injured in Mail Package Explosion at Buenos Aires Gendarmerie Academy
Three people were injured on Friday after a mail package exploded at the Escuela Superior de Gendarmería in Buenos Aires, according to a statement released by Argentina’s Ministerio de Seguridad.
The explosion occurred at 1:49 p.m. local time (16:49 GMT) inside a building located less than one kilometer from the Government House, the ministry reported.
“Personnel from the force handled a parcel that had reportedly been received months earlier and was being stored at the facility. When it was opened, an explosion occurred, causing injuries to two officers,” the statement said.
The ministry added that both injured officers were transported to a hospital and are not in life-threatening condition. “A third officer remains in recovery and is out of danger,” authorities confirmed.
Following the incident, police cordoned off the surrounding area, halted traffic, and evacuated the 11-story building as well as adjacent buildings on the same block.
Mariana Bornio, an employee at a telecommunications company located in a neighboring building, said that as she was being evacuated, she saw one of the injured gendarmes leaving the scene shirtless and covered with a blue medical gown.
International
Top U.S. Military Commander Meets Interim Venezuelan Leaders After Maduro’s Capture
The commander of the United States Southern Command, Marine Francis L. Donovan, visited Venezuela on Wednesday, holding meetings with interim leaders following the recent capture of former President Nicolás Maduro by U.S. forces. The visit, confirmed by both U.S. and Venezuelan officials, marked a significant diplomatic and security engagement in Caracas.
Donovan, accompanied by senior U.S. officials including acting Assistant Secretary of Defense Joseph M. Humire and top diplomat Laura Dogu, met with acting President Delcy Rodríguez and key members of her cabinet, including Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino López and Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello.
According to official statements, discussions focused on strengthening bilateral cooperation on regional security issues, including efforts to combat illicit drug trafficking, terrorism, and migration. Both sides reiterated a commitment to pursuing diplomatic engagement and shared security goals for Venezuela and the Western Hemisphere.
The meetings also discussed progress on a three-phase plan supported by the United States to help stabilize Venezuela, following Maduro’s removal from power and subsequent detention in the U.S. on drug-related charges. This agenda reflects expanding U.S. engagement with Venezuela’s interim government amid broader efforts to restore diplomatic relations and address regional challenges.
The visit concluded on Wednesday, underscoring a growing U.S. focus on cooperation with Venezuelan authorities in the aftermath of major political developments earlier this year.
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