MIAMI, United States. – The Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado called on her followers to demonstrate on January 9, the eve of the date on which Nicolas Maduro He is preparing to assume a new six-year mandate, as provided by the pro-government authorities and after the fraudulent elections held in July 2024.
The exhortation was broadcast this Sunday in a message published on his social network account X, where he emphasized the need for citizen unity to demand the end of the Maduro regime.
“This is the sign. This is the day! The day we unite our flag in a single cry of FREEDOM! Venezuela needs you. To all, TOGETHER. TO ALL! I’m going with you. This January 9, EVERYONE takes to the streets, in Venezuela and the world. GLORY TO THE BRAVE PEOPLE!”, wrote the leader of the Unitary Platform.
This is the signal. This is the day!
The day we unite our flag in a single cry of FREEDOM!
Venezuela needs you.
To all, TOGETHER. TO ALL!I’m going with you.
This January 9, EVERYONE takes to the streets, in Venezuela and the world.GLORY TO THE BRAVE PEOPLE! pic.twitter.com/sbCIYWAxuG
— María Corina Machado (@MariaCorinaYA) January 5, 2025
Machado, who appears as the opposition’s favorite despite having been disqualified by Chavismo after her resounding victory in the primaries, accompanied her publication with a video in which she reinforced her call:
“Maduro is not going to go alone. “We must make him leave with the strength of a people that never gives up,” he stated, while warning that January 9 “will be recorded in history as the day Venezuela said enough.”
The former deputy invited the protesters to wear the colors of the Venezuelan flag and emphasized: “No matter how much they wanted to divide it, we are going to unite it. (…) Here no one is left behind.” Furthermore, he ratified his conviction that “freedom is not begged for, it is fought for and conquered.”
For his part, the opponent Edmundo González Urrutia, recognized as president-elect by the United States, the European Union and other governments, addressed the Bolivarian National Armed Forces to demand that the constitutional order be respected. In a video also shared on the social networkassured that, in accordance with the 1999 Magna Carta promoted by Hugo Chávez, he must assume as commander in chief:
“According to the 1999 Constitution, promoted by Hugo Chávez Frías, on January 10, by sovereign will, I must assume the role of commander,” said González Urrutia, adding that the military institution is called to guarantee sovereignty and respect. to it.
To the members of the Bolivarian National Armed Forces pic.twitter.com/CZrLR2g4cX
— Edmundo González (@EdmundoGU) January 6, 2025
Likewise, the former diplomat urged the military to reaffirm their commitment to the nation and to act “with determination and unity,” warning that “it is necessary to put an end to a leadership that has distorted the fundamental and moral principles” of the Armed Forces.
In response, the president of the Venezuelan Parliament, Jorge Rodríguez, asked the deputies to support an arrest warrant against González Urrutia if he enters the national territory, arguing that he is posing as the winner of the elections.
The ruling National Electoral Council (CNE) proclaimed Maduro as the winner of the presidential elections of July 28, 2024, but so far it has not presented minutes that verifiably certify said result.
These elections have been strongly criticized for not meeting international standards of electoral integrity.
According to the Chavista regime, Maduro reached 51.95% of the votes in the elections, while Edmundo García only 43.18%. The opposition, which has managed to gather 81% of the scrutiny records, currently public on a website for review by citizens and independent organizations, assures that García vastly surpassed Maduro by almost 40% of the votes.
