Dear John,

I had the opportunity to participate in several conferences in Europe and Latin America, speaking about democracy and its outlook in the region. In this Cafecito, I was going to focus on telling you about my recent travels, but something very important happened in my country, Venezuela, on July 28. Something that has brought me many moments of sadness, frustration, hope, and pride, and I would like to share it with you.

Last Sunday, presidential elections were held in Venezuela. Since 1999, Venezuela has only had two presidents from the same political tendency: Hugo Chavez, who passed away in 2013, followed by Nicolás Maduro, who, in the early hours of Monday, July 29, was declared president-elect by the Venezuelan National Electoral Council (CNE). In a process that was neither transparent nor verifiable, the CNE has yet to show or make available the electoral records that would validate the results. Furthermore, these elections were neither free nor fair, and were organized in an atmosphere of authoritarianism and repression. Despite the obstacles, these elections were historic because they were held in a context of a “perfect storm”: a complex humanitarian emergency, coupled with a severe human rights, political, and economic crisis, in a country where more than 20 percent of its population (almost 8 million people) has migrated.

On July 28, the world witnessed millions of Venezuelans exercising their right to vote. This massive participation demonstrated the democratic desire of the Venezuelan people and their willingness to express this through electoral mechanisms. I also believe that many people went to vote for political change and for the hope that their children, siblings, spouses, and grandchildren might return to the country from which they were forced to leave.

In recent days, we have witnessed the challenges that democratic mechanisms face in an authoritarian context and the process of resistance against authoritarianism. In this scenario, the role of the U.S. government and others in the international community is crucial. As the U.S. works with allies in the region and beyond to determine next steps in their policies and strategies towards Venezuela, it is essential that the voices and concerns of Venezuelan civil society, democratic political actors, and international civil society organizations are heard.

Taking into account the complexity of the political crisis that the country is facing, negotiations that facilitate a democratic and peaceful transition must be sought. This negotiation must respect the demands of the Venezuelan population and the international community for transparency in regards to the election results. Therefore, WOLA, alongside national and international human rights organizations and other actors, called on the Venezuelan National Electoral Council to make public all voting records and complete the electoral audit and citizen verification processes as required by Venezuelan law and international standards.

I wish for my country to be one where human rights and democracy are respected. Despite all its imperfections, a government driven by democracy has proven to be the system where it is possible not only to guarantee rights but also to demand them when they are not protected. However, the outlook is challenging and complex. We are concerned about the repression against protestors, the lack of transparency, the radical stance of the armed forces decisively supporting Maduro's government, among other issues. While these concerns make it easy for us to fall into defeatism, it is important to acknowledge the positive aspects and lessons learned that this election has brought us:

It Demonstrated A Profound Democratic Commitment Of Venezuelan Society: Participation was very high despite the country’s difficult context and political restrictions in recent years. Despite some incidents of violence, the elections were conducted in a peaceful atmosphere with a highly engaged electorate.
We Witnessed The "Repoliticization" Of Venezuelan Society: Until not long ago, there was a level of political apathy in the country. The humanitarian emergency prevented many from having the time and resources to participate voluntarily in political and civic spaces. But since the opposition’s primary elections (in October 2023) and these presidential elections, we have witnessed a renewed sense of political activism among citizens.
A Renewed Spirit Of Fighting For The Country And Building A Better Future: Despite the humanitarian crisis and the crushing power of an authoritarian government attempting to take away people’s vision for a future, human dignity remains a beacon of light. Moreover, I am proud that in Venezuela, women's political leadership has been fundamental in channeling citizens' energies toward the electoral path to recover democracy.

These are difficult but decisive moments. WOLA remains active in monitoring this post-election period and providing recommendations to policymakers in the U.S. and the international community. With these efforts we strive to amplify the voices of civil society and promote human rights. However, we cannot achieve this alone. Stand with us today to defend democracy in Venezuela and across the region.