Following his release from jail, the national coordinator of Vente Venezuela, Henry Alviárez, announced that María Corina Machado will tour Venezuela once her return is finalized. The announcement comes days after the opposition leader stated she would return “in a few weeks” to participate in an “unstoppable transition.” Her teams have been reorganizing structures that were dismantled due to persecution that forced many into hiding and exile, following dozens of releases from prison.
Alviárez, who still must report to the courts once a month and is not permitted to depart the country, announced a tour beginning this week in the state of Lara, in the west-central part of the country, and will continue with Machado. “If I assume a risk with this declaration, I assume it as I have before. We have been suffering this risk for years, but we have decided to move forward to the complete,” the politician said Tuesday morning at a press conference. Alviárez emphasized that people have begun to take to the streets because they have lost their fear.
“I more than anyone desire to embrace her when she arrives,” the political organization’s leader said regarding Machado. “We will begin to tour the country now, not only with those from Vente, but with all allies, the majority of Venezuelans, and then with her, when she arrives.”
Vente is preparing, along with the rest of the opposition, for a new election, although a clear—or even near—date for the election has not yet been set. The demand for recognition of the results of July 28, 2024—when the opposition demonstrated with official records that Edmundo González Urrutia had won by a wide margin—has been relegated in this new scenario of the Venezuelan conflict.
The opposition leader, currently in the United States, said Sunday she would return to Venezuela to prepare for a “new and gigantic electoral victory.” González Urrutia ran in the past presidential election as a substitute for Machado, blocked from registering as a candidate despite being chosen in primaries among opposition parties.
“July 28th is a reality. Edmundo González is the legitimate president of Venezuela. But if they oppose it and if the reality that is imposing itself in these 60 days after January 3rd obliges and invites us to a process of understanding, what better way to do it than to allow every citizen to express their decision with a serious institutionality that guarantees transparency,” the leader responded to a journalist’s question.
“The priority is to rescue Venezuelan institutionality and for the people to be able to decide freely and we are organizing around that. The priority is to establish justice and institutionality in Venezuela and democratic coexistence. The electoral process is what will give legitimacy to the authorities so that they can do the right thing.”
Alviárez advocated for the release of the more than 500 political prisoners still detained, despite the intensive process of releases that began in early January and accelerated after the approval of the amnesty law. He as well denounced the serious situation of the Venezuelan judicial system, reproached the legal profession for its silence on the crisis, and raised four points that, in his opinion, should be priorities for advancing the rule of law in the country. “First, there can never again be a detainee in Venezuela without a police order. Second, anyone who is detained must have a lawyer of their confidence; 80% of political prisoners have public defenders; in two years I saw my public defender for barely two minutes,” he said.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Henry Alviárez’s current legal status?
Alviárez was released from prison on February 8th but must still report to the courts once a month and is not allowed to leave the country.
What is María Corina Machado planning to do upon her return to Venezuela?
Machado plans to tour Venezuela and prepare for a “new and gigantic electoral victory.”
What happened with the results of the July 28, 2024 election?
The opposition demonstrated with official records that Edmundo González Urrutia had won the election by a wide margin, but the demand for recognition of these results has been sidelined.
Given these developments, what role do you believe international pressure will play in shaping the future of Venezuela’s political landscape?
