Venezuela: A Fight For Democracy

By: Janelle Rosales '26

In recent times, Venezuela has been undergoing a dictatorship led by Nicolas Maduro and other associates of his. After years of oppression, the Venezuelan people have started fighting for the right of democracy and the reconstruction of their current economy. Protests began to occur on July 29, 2024 after Maduro was allegedly elected once again to serve as president. 

The goal of these activists is to obtain a fair re-election in hopes that they will receive a new leader who is ready to rebuild the falling nation. Over the past decade, Venezuelans have suffered through food shortages, increasing crime rates, inflation, lack of medical care, and much more.  This ongoing humanitarian crisis has urged “more than 5.4 million Venezuelans” to leave their home country (Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs).

The protesters remain persistent as they continue to storm across the capital demanding for a fair election. Maria Corina Machado, the head of this movement, makes it very clear that the people will not back down until their demands are met. “‘With intelligence, prudence, resilience, boldness … peaceful protest is our right’” she shares with the press as she stands alongside many other protesters (AlJazeera). 

Unfortunately, this fight has not been easy as many casualties, injuries, and arrests have emerged following the start of these events. Regardless of the people’s cries, the government still refuses to show them the full report of the election. One of the reasons that the reports haven’t been released is the claim that the system has been hacked.

Why has the re-election of Nicolas Maduro infuriated the people? The dictator has a reputation of rigging the elections prior to that of 2024. For the recent election “..Maduro manipulated the electoral process and timeline to his advantage” (Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs). 

Maduro started his political career in 1999, serving the Venezuelan National Constituent assembly. Ensuing years of climbing up the political ladder, he found himself succeeding  President Chavez in 2013.  Economic and social issues began to occur throughout the country following the event of his election. Throughout his terms he was able to change the Venezuelan constitution in his favor and succeeded in replacing the National Assembly with his inner circle of supporters.  

One of Maduro’s most notorious ways of seizing power is through taking control over the nation's food supply and distribution. Furthermore, the leader has been able to continue his regime by maintaining an alliance with communist countries such as China and Russia.

In January of 2019, amid political and anti-government protests, leader Juan Gualdo announced himself as interim president while Maduro was in the process of fleeing the country. Now, current Interim President Gualdo is trying his best to transform the country towards a democracy. He is assisting by teaming up with other political leaders “to expose the lies of the Maduro regime, provide adequate health care, and raise international awareness” for the situation at hand  (Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs).

Many countries are working to aid the struggling people. Columbia has been opening its doors to refugees, while The United States claims to be helping citizens receive the assistance that their own country has failed to give them. Some, such as Australia, have even conducted their own protests to raise awareness.