Venezuelans living in Spain take part in a gathering outside Spanish parliament in support of opposition presidential candidate Edmundo Gonzalez, in the aftermath of disputed Venezuelan elections, in Madrid, Spain, September 10, 2024. REUTERS/Violeta Santos MouraSource: REUTERS
Venezuelans living in Mexico gathered in Mexico City as part of a global protest, marking two months since Venezuela's disputed presidential election.
The protests were triggered by the Venezuelan electoral authority’s swift declaration of President Nicolas Maduro’s victory, which has been widely rejected by the international community.
According to Venezuela’s CNE electoral body, which is loyal to the Maduro regime, the president won 52 percent of the vote. However, a detailed vote breakdown has not been provided, leading many foreign governments to question the legitimacy of the results.
Jeison Hortua, a 26-year-old Venezuelan living in Mexico for two years, emphasised the importance of continued protests. "We have to show the world we haven’t given up and won’t give up. This fight will go to the end," he told the AFP, stressing the role of Venezuelans abroad in keeping international attention on the situation.
Barbara Guevara, who has lived in Mexico for 15 years, expressed her frustration at being unable to vote from abroad. "It's really frustrating. All I could do was encourage others to vote and unite for the cause," she said.
The opposition claims its candidate, Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia, won two-thirds of the votes, a result supported by U.S. officials citing "overwhelming evidence" of his victory.
The opposition in Venezuela has released its tally of results, claiming victory for Gonzalez Urrutia, but without transparency from the CNE, the situation remains unresolved.