By Deutsche Welle
Aug 14, 2024, 02:30 AM EDT
The Democratic Unitary Platform (PUD), the largest opposition alliance in Venezuela, called for a worldwide protest on Saturday, August 17 in more than 100 cities, in defense of “the truth,” in allusion to the “victory” obtained by Edmundo González Urrutia in the elections of July 28, against President Nicolás Maduro, who was declared the winner by the electoral body.
The former candidate’s team shared a link on X where Venezuelan migrants can review the calls for demonstrations by city, and invites anyone who wants to organize a demonstration in the place where they are located, and who is not included in the list, to write to an email.
The majority opposition called on Venezuelans abroad – some 7.7 million, according to the Interagency Coordination Platform for Refugees and Migrants (R4V) – to demand respect for “the results of July 28,” which the PUD bases on “83.5%” of the minutes it claims to have collected thanks to witnesses and table members, according to which its standard-bearer beat Maduro by a wide margin.
“A voice for freedom!
“We are mobilizing all over the world. Print your document and carry it with your flag,” reads one of the digital flyers distributed by the anti-Chavez bloc, which added that “where there is a Venezuelan, there is a voice for freedom.”
Among the Latin American cities invited are Bogotá, Cúcuta (Colombia); Brasilia (Brazil), Quito, Guayaquil (Ecuador); Montevideo (Uruguay), Asunción (Paraguay), San Salvador (El Salvador), Punta Cana (Dominican Republic) and Mexico City (Mexico).
There are also planned rallies in Washington, Miami, New York (United States), Madrid, Barcelona (Spain), Amsterdam (Netherlands), Brussels (Belgium), Lisbon (Portugal), Rome (Italy), London (United Kingdom), Marseille (France) and Melbourne (Australia).
This protest, also in Venezuela, was called last Saturday by González Urrutia and his main supporter, former deputy María Corina Machado, with the aim of showing the electoral records that – they insist – demonstrate the opposition’s victory.
Machado is under protection due to threats against her, she is convinced that González Urrutia will be sworn in as the new president on January 10, 2025, when the new term begins.
Continue reading:
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