Venezuelan opposition holds protests against Maduro’s fraud

Venezuelan opponents began to meet this Thursday (9) in several cities around the world, including the country’s capital – Caracas – following the call by opposition leader Maria Corina Machado against the regime of dictator Nicolás Maduro, who will take office for more a fraudulent mandate in Venezuela this Friday (10).

“It’s today! You are the protagonist! Let nothing take away your right to demand freedom and respect for your vote. We win together, all of us, let’s demand it. The world is with us,” said Machado in a message posted on social media, in which he encourages Venezuelans to participate in demonstrations on the eve of the date set for the presidential inauguration.

Under the motto “Glory, brave people” – an excerpt from the Venezuelan anthem – dozens of Venezuelans began to gather in symbolic places in various cities around the world to express their support for the opposition leader, who claims victory in the July elections, Edmundo González Urrutia. Images of demonstrations in countries such as Australia, Malaysia, Japan, Belgium and the Netherlands were shared on social media.

In the coming hours, dozens of demonstrations are expected in other capitals around the world.

According to the organization Ganó Venezuela, protests are scheduled on five continents, and participants are encouraged to display their country’s flag and wear yellow, blue or red, according to Machado’s proposal.

The biggest crowd is expected in Caracas. Opposition leader Maria Corina Machado confirmed that she will come out of hiding and participate in this demonstration to claim González Urrutia’s victory in the presidential elections.

The candidate who contested the election with Maduro has been traveling in recent days through some countries in the region before returning to Venezuela, where he left in September to seek asylum in Spain after being persecuted by the Chavista regime.

González Urrutia will be the most prominent figure at the demonstration scheduled to take place in the Dominican Republic, the last country he visited on his trip to rally international support.

Another of the largest demonstrations will take place in Madrid, with the presence of current and historic representatives of the Spanish right, including former conservative presidents José María Aznar and Mariano Rajoy, opposition leader Alberto Núñez Feijóo and right-wing nationalist leader Santiago Abascal.

Demonstrations are also scheduled in the main European capitals and cities, such as Paris, London and Berlin, and in the Americas, such as Buenos Aires, Washington, New York, Bogotá and Mexico City.