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🇻🇪 Venezuela /Elections & Politics

Unions and civil society march in Caracas demanding elections and criticizing government's earthquake response

From El Nacional · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • Union members and civil society activists marched in Caracas, demanding presidential elections and criticizing the government's response to recent earthquakes.
  • Protesters called for an interim government and immediate elections within 30 days, while also demanding the release of political prisoners.
  • Demonstrators voiced discontent over the government's handling of the emergency and urged national protests despite the ongoing tragedy.

Union representatives and dozens of citizens mobilized in Caracas on Wednesday, demanding the immediate call for presidential elections and the removal of interim president Delcy Rodríguez. The protest also voiced strong discontent over the government's response to the emergency following earthquakes on June 24.

The demonstration gathered over a hundred people who marched from Plaza Venezuela, carrying banners with slogans such as "elections now," "Trump traitor," and "We are waiting for you, our main rescuer," referencing opposition leader María Corina Machado.

We need to get out of the regime to establish a governing board and, within the necessary immediacy of 30 days, hold presidential and parliamentary elections.

— Josefina GuerraInsisting on the need for a political transition during the demonstration.

Josefina Guerra, an activist with the National Union Coalition, stressed the urgency of a political transition. "We need to get out of the regime to establish a governing board and, within the necessary immediacy of 30 days, hold presidential and parliamentary elections," she declared.

The march included a stop outside a headquarters of the Bolivarian National Intelligence Service (Sebin), where attendees demanded the release of political prisoners. According to the organization Foro Penal, 389 individuals remain detained for political reasons in the country.

We invite all states of the country to take to the streets, to fight for that freedom.

— José PatinesCalling for continued national protests.

Union leader José Patines urged for continued protests nationwide, asserting that the crisis caused by the earthquakes should not halt demonstrations. "We invite all states of the country to take to the streets, to fight for that freedom," he stated, adding, "They have tried to play with the mourning of Venezuelans by saying that now is not the time to be in the streets. Well, yes: this and every day is the time to fight for freedom."

Patines also questioned the authorities' actions in the immediate aftermath of the earthquakes, claiming the official response began 72 hours after the disaster. He highlighted the significant role played by thousands of volunteers in rescue and humanitarian aid efforts.

They have tried to play with the mourning of Venezuelans by saying that now is not the time to be in the streets. Well, yes: this and every day is the time to fight for freedom.

— José PatinesJustifying the continuation of protests despite the earthquake tragedy.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by El Nacional in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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