Violent protests erupted in Venezuela after the July 28 elections. These elections were aimed at choosing a president for a term of six years. President Nicolas Maduro ran for a third consecutive term and emerged victorious, but these elections are highly controversial, with international entities calling them neither fair nor free. The elections were held under the authoritarian regime of Maduro with significant democratic backsliding. Edmundo González was contesting against Maduro in these elections. He became the leader of the opposition’s political alliance, the Unitary Platform, in 2020 and entered into the presidential elections of 2024 after the former deputy of the National Assembly of Venezuela, Maria Corina, was declared ineligible to run for the race. The 2024 Venezuela protests are rooted in a socialist history of the state, dating back to the time of Hugo Chavez.
From Hugo Chavez to Nicolas Maduro
It took almost 25 years for, the once wealthiest nation in Latin America, Venezuela to shift from the long tradition of independence and democracy to dictatorship and authoritarianism.
During a historical event known as the Bolivarian Revolution in 1998, Marxist socialist Hugo Chavez was elected President of Venezuela. He founded the United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV) and carried on the spirit of Simon Bolivar, who fought against Spanish colonialism. Chavez promoted leftist policies that encompassed a broad range of political ideologies such as social democracy, socialism, and even communism. He secured office for the third time after winning 63% of votes in the 2006 presidential elections. Chavez propagated anti-U.S. sentiments and cultivated good relations with Russia. He also formed the Union of South American Countries known as UNASUR to counter U.S. influence. Nicolas Maduro, who began his working life as a bus driver, enjoyed various political positions under the leadership of Chavez. After the death of Hugo Chavez in 2013, Maduro assumed the presidency by winning more than 50% of the votes.
Chavez’s government relied heavily on oil reserves for his social programs. The World Bank declared the Venezuelan economy to be extremely vulnerable, as in 2012, 96% of the country’s exports were based on oil production, as compared to 1998, when 77% of exports relied on oil reserves. Chavez’s policies led to high inflation, food shortages, and skyrocketing unemployment, making the people despise socialism and Bolivarianism.
In 2008, the Democratic Unity Roundtable (MUD), a political coalition of parties against Chavez, was formed. This coalition gained momentum after protests erupted in Venezuela in 2014. It was not the first time that protests were used to express dissatisfaction with the political and economic model introduced by Hugo Chavez and carried on by Maduro.
About protest count in Venezuela in 2014 was the highest it had been in decades. The chaos escalated when the government used force to dismantle the demonstrations. Maduro called the protesters “fascists” and accused the opposition of trying to plan a coup with the support of the United States.
In the 2015 parliamentary elections, the opposition MUD came out victorious with significant seats in the National Assembly and defeat to Maduro’s party. This victory gave a chance to the opposition to counter Maduro’s regime, and by 2016, the MUD initiated efforts to recall him through the referendum. However, Maduro blocked all the efforts by gaining the support of the National Election Council and the military to stay in power. The National Assembly was deprived of its power in 2017 by the Venezuelan Supreme Tribunal which aligned itself with Maduro. This triggered a constitutional crisis and a new wave of protests.
Nicolas Maduro proposed the formation of a new constitution in July and elected a Constituent Assembly that was filled with pro-Maduro supporters. The new constitution diminished the powers of the National Assembly and allowed President Maduro to appoint key officials in the executive and judiciary branches. For years, both Chavez and Maduro blocked internet access and social media platforms, restricting their citizens from practicing or even being exposed to freedom of speech. They also suppressed opposition newspapers and arrested foreign journalists, often buying the journalists.
Moving toward the 2018 elections, Venezuela was embroiled in a severe economic crisis marked by unemployment, hyperinflation, poverty, and shortages of basic needs. Due to Maduro’s anti-U.S. sentiments, the oil prices fell by 70%. The 2018 presidential elections took place in May prior to their decided time. Maduro won another six years of power. Many opposition leaders called for a boycott of the elections, claiming that the elections were rigged in favor of Maduro. The Lima Group declared the victory illegitimate. The National Assembly declared Juan Guaido as President of Venezuela, and over 50 states recognized his government, but Maduro refused to leave office.
In January 2019, thousands of protestors took to the streets to restore constitutional order. Amid the humanitarian crisis, thousands left the country mostly on foot. Maduro blocked the shipment of medicine and food from other Latin American countries and the U.S. and declared that they were propagandistic as there was no emergency or crisis.
Maduro has been investigated by the ICC for crimes against humanity and the funding of colectivos, a pro-government armed group to suppress the opposition.
Aftermath of the Venezuelan Elections
Currently, again after the presidential election results of 2024, Venezuela is facing chaos and crisis. The election results have been highly contentious. Exit polls showed signs of the opposition’s victory, but the electoral authority, the National Electoral Council, announced that Maduro had won with 51% of the votes. The opposition gathered about 80% of the tally sheets which indicated that Edmundo González had secured 67% of the votes.
Protests Against Maduro
Protestors demanded the release of data from the polling stations, but the Venezuelan Government failed to do so. Banned from running against Maduro, Maria Corina Machado along with Gonzalez took to the streets. Social media allowed the opposition to disseminate evidence of unfair elections. Digital platforms were used to organize protests and coordinate activities.
On 22 August 2024, Venezuela’s Supreme Court declared Maduro as the new President of Venezuela. This ruling was the last attempt by Maduro to shut down the criticism from protestors and the international community.
Brazil and Columbia, allies of Venezuela, had not taken any sides and called for the re-elections or formation of a coalition government to end the dispute, but both Maduro and the opposition declined this proposal. Both countries also demanded the international community end sanctions on Venezuela to ease its economic burden.
Ecuador, Peru, Argentina, and Chile have accepted Gonzalez as the newly elected president whereas other leftist countries are supporting Maduro’s regime. Russia was the first country to congratulate Maduro on his re-election. With a giant number of investments in Venezuela, China also announced its support for Maduro. Cuba has also supported Maduro, due to strong enduring relations. The Western bloc has rejected the results. The U.S., U.K., Canada, and EU are all calling for transparency in elections. The Carter Center and interim report of the UN called for access to voting sheets.
Venezuelan protests have demonstrated the might of Venezuela’s diaspora. With about 8 million people spread across the globe, the diaspora makes up more than one-fourth of the country’s total population.
The strategy of Maduro’s Government is not to deal with the crisis but rather to deny its existence. People proclaimed that the days of the poor had come when Hugo was selected as president. But the politicians grew richer in the oil-rich country. With the largest oil reserves in Venezuela, Chavez and Maduro spent greatly on their supporters. Since Chavez’s time, oil production in Venezuela has not increased. Maduro sold a greater number of gold reserves without bearing any legitimacy. On all sides, there is opposition against Maduro. The future of Venezuela is highly unpredictable. It depends on the strategies of the government and the opposition. The loyalty of the military and the intervention of international actors will play a significant role in determining its future.
If you want to submit your articles and/or research papers, please check the Submissions page.
The views and opinions expressed in this article/paper are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect the editorial position of Paradigm Shift.
Eman Fatima is currently pursuing her Bachelor's degree in International Relations from Government College University Lahore. She has a keen interest in understanding the complexities of global politics and the dynamics that shape international interactions.