Guilds, organizations and students recalled that “democracy is not an abstract idea”, but rather an ideal that must be recovered in Venezuela after the “long period of repression of citizen liberties and non-compliance with state obligations” that, they assured, the country experienced in the last two decades.
Unions, human rights organizations and the student community demanded this Friday the “overcoming of authoritarianism”, amid the “control” of the country announced by the United States and a “new political moment” announced by Delcy Rodríguez after the capture of Nicolás Maduro.
Student representatives from organizations such as Provea and teachers’ unions met this Friday in front of the mural «Drivers of Venezuela (Pedro León Zapata)»in Caracas, to commemorate the 68th anniversary of January 23, 1959, which marked the end of the dictatorship of Marcos Pérez Jiménez and the beginning of democracy in the country.
“Venezuela aspires once again to overcome authoritarianism, the recovery of democracy and the rescue of popular and territorial sovereignty,” they said in a statementread by Miguelangel Suárez, president of the Federation of Student Centers of the Central University of Venezuela (FCU-UCV).
*Read also: Leaders remember January 23 and advocate for a real transition to democracy
They affirmed that the “new political moment” that Rodríguez expressed in recent days will not be viable if the urgent citizen demands are not met, the main one being “the full, unconditional and immediate release” of all political prisoners in the country.
“These people, and their families, have been victims of serious abuses that include torture, cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment, forced disappearances and violations of due process and the right to defense, among others,” they noted.
Likewise, they expressed that “beyond the renewed official promises”, the civil and political rights of the population “continue to be suppressed or severely restricted”, which is why they demanded the repeal of the State of Foreign Commotion decree, in force since last January 3.
“This decree must be repealed if there is really the will to advance a genuine process of reconciliation that leads to the redemocratization of the country, respect for the National Constitution and the reconstruction of the institutions,” it was stated.
Miguel Ángel Suárez, president of the Federation of University Centers of the UCV, reads the unitary proclamation in defense of democracy and against authoritarianism, within the framework of the 68th anniversary of January 23, 1958 pic.twitter.com/7gyra5RVfi
— PROVEA (@_Provea) January 23, 2026
On the other hand, they indicated that the “new political moment” also has to address the “enormous social debt”, such as increases in salaries and pensions, recovery of basic and health services; the «economic recovery»; the preservation of the environment; settle debts related to the demarcation of indigenous ancestral territories and respect for sovereignty.
The latter in view of the energy agreements signed with the US. They pointed out that “they should not mean an additional transfer of national territorial sovereignty” or the “deepening of the circumvention of the rights of Venezuelan workers.”
The unions, organizations and students recalled that “democracy is not an abstract idea”, but rather an ideal that must be recovered after the “long period of repression of citizen liberties and non-compliance with state obligations” that, they assured, the country experienced in the last two decades.
«We reiterate that the Venezuelan people are determined to live with dignity and to live in the truth… The time of our lives is marked by unpredictability. While some have the serene and peaceful centuries of harvesting, on the other hand, others have the time to sow, to direct, to create a vision of hope for future generations.
*Journalism in Venezuela is carried out in a hostile environment for the press with dozens of legal instruments in place to punish the word, especially the laws “against hate”, “against fascism” and “against the blockade.” This content was written taking into consideration the threats and limits that, consequently, have been imposed on the dissemination of information from within the country.
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