AREQUIPA, Peru – After a month of electoral fraud by Nicolás Maduro, thousands of Venezuelan opponents protested this Wednesday against the results announced by the National Electoral Council (CNE) and recently ratified by the Supreme Court of Justiceboth controlled by the dictatorship.
“We are not the opposition, we are the government,” wrote 61-year-old Maria Jose de Castro on a banner. “Chavismo’s option is to fight to the death, ours is to fight until we win. Venezuela has no more time to lose, we don’t have (another presidential term of) six years to give to these people.” the protester indicated to the agency AFP.
For her part, the leader María Corina Machado since 9:00 AM on August 28 once again called on the Venezuelan people to defend Edmundo González’s victory in the elections.
“Today, one month after our glorious victory on July 28, we Venezuelans unite, inside and outside our country, and we shout with vigor! At 12:00 PM Venezuela time, wherever you are, let us sing together and with pride our National Anthem! Glory to the brave people! Let us go to the streets with your family and your flag!” wrote Machado on X (formerly Twitter).
The demonstrations take place a day after Maduro appointed as head of the Interior Ministry, responsible for the police and public order, Diosdado Cabelloconsidered the second most relevant figure of Chavismo.
Venezuelan prosecutors, who are subordinate to Maduro, have opened a criminal investigation against Machado and González, who have gone into hiding. Chavista authorities are pursuing the leaders while blaming them for the acts of violence during the post-election protests.
According to the organization Foro Penal, since July 28, the Chavista dictatorship has arrested 1,780 Venezuelans, including 114 minors.
Other movements within Chavismo
Maduro made significant changes to his cabinet on Tuesday, including the leadership of the oil and finance ministries and state oil company PDVSA.
Anabel Pereira is the new Minister of Finance, while Hector Obregon is the new president of PDVSA, replacing Pedro Tellechea, who will head the Ministry of Industry, Maduro said at the state television.
Vice President Delcy Rodriguez will remain in office, but will add the oil ministry to her duties, Maduro added.
Diosdado Cabello has been given more power: the first vice president of the ruling United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV) will be in charge of the Ministry of Popular Power for Internal Relations, Justice and Peace.
“If there is someone who likes to be with the people and walk through the neighborhoods, it is Diosdado Cabello,” said the governor.
Yván Gil and Vladimir Padrino will remain in their respective positions as Minister of Foreign Affairs and Minister of Defense, respectively, the dictator said.
In addition, the Cuban was appointed as Minister of Tourism in Venezuela Leticia Gomez Hernandezwho previously held positions as Vice Minister of International Tourism, of the Ministry of Popular Power for Tourism of Venezuela, according to an investigation by Inventory Project and Armando.info.
