For more than two decades, the contrast between the regime’s narrative Nicolas Madurowhich has tried to project an image of stability and progress, presenting the country as a nation resistant to a supposed “economic war” and the daily reality of Venezuelans has been abysmal. The population lives in a panorama marked by economic precariousness, mass migration and institutional deterioration.
At the same time, at the international level, Ripe has become a point of tension for the United States due to alleged violations of laws related to drug trafficking, according to Senator Marco Rubio.. The Venezuelan government, however, presents these accusations as an “external aggression” and an attempted “invasion” against the country. But what he really seeks to protect is not Venezuela, but his own permanence in power.
Disinformation and narrative control
In interview with The Nationalthe economist Carmen Briceñol, graduated from the University of Caraboboexplained that Venezuela, despite its wealth in natural resources such as oil, gas, gold, iron, bauxite and diamonds, is going through a deep humanitarian crisis that keeps a large part of the population in conditions of misery.
Briceño stated that, for more than two decades, Venezuelans have lived “the worst nightmare in their history”: the destruction of a country with the largest reserves tested oil of the world, in the hands of criminals who, he said, have dedicated themselves to looting and corruption. He added that, for more than enough reasons, “citizens went out to vote for true change and expressed it on social networks, where thousands of videos showed the truth that the regime has wanted to hide: the victory of the elected president Edmundo González Urrutia.”
However, he pointed out that the regime still remains in power because “it stole the elections of July 28, 2024something never seen before in history.” In his opinion, the official discourse has sought to misinform and hide the reality of a corrupt and criminal system through communication manipulation strategies, including the dissemination of fake news aimed at generating hopelessness.
As an example, he mentioned the circulation in WhatsApp groups promoted by CLAP leaders from his community of false news that claimed that “María Corina Machado had left the country.” As he explained, this misinformation was used to mock those who support democratic change under the leadership of the Nobel Peace Prize winner.
Briceño concluded by stating: “I am sure that the criminal regime uses false profiles on social networks to manipulate public opinion, keep its small base of followers together and attack critical citizens.”
The fight for truth and citizen resistance
Despite censorship, repression and harassment, there persists a working people inside and outside the country who have fought to make the truth prevail through alternative media and social networks.
Organizations like Fake News Hunters They have dedicated themselves to combating the regime’s manipulated narratives. Recent investigations show how digital structures linked to the Ministry of Communication and Information continue to operate on X, even with the platform blocked.
The findings describe networks of recycled accounts, trolls and bots that amplify pro-government propaganda and attack critical voices, including figures such as Donald Trump, Marco Rubio, Volker Türk and Machado herself.
Economy and public services
The regime of Nicolás Maduro assures that Venezuela is going through a stage of economic recovery, with controlled inflation, productive growth and advances in public services such as electricity, water and telecommunications. However, the reality of the population is different: it faces low wagesdollarized prices, a fragile labor market and a weakened financial system. Furthermore, public services suffer constant electrical faults due to years of corruption, neglect and looting, while the regime blames sanctions and sabotage.
On the other hand, mass migration exceeds seven million Venezuelans, according to UNHCRwith profound social consequences such as fractured families and affected communities. Meanwhile, the regime defines itself as a full democracy, although human rights organizations They denounce arbitrary arrests, censorship and political persecution, evidencing the gap between official discourse and daily reality.
Although the State’s communication apparatus tries to impose a single version of reality, civil society has managed to break that siege through social networks and alternative media. Informational resistance has been transformed into an act of collective courage. And thanks to increasing access to independent sources, the demand for truth, justice and democratic change not only persists, but is strengthened.
Article written by Rosange Mendoza for The National
