A new danger for Venezuela’s autocrat
The regime’s dilemma is rig or lose the election on July 28th
A CACOPHONY of revving motorcycle engines, vuvuzela trumpets, salsa music and chants of “this government is going to fall” filled the streets of Caracas on July 4th at an opposition rally in the capital to mark the start of 24 days of official campaigning before the presidential election. Most in the crowd of several thousand were there to see María Corina Machado, Venezuela’s popular opposition leader, who has become a symbol of resistance to the authoritarian regime of President Nicolás Maduro. Perched atop a lorry and dressed in jeans, she blew kisses of appreciation to her giddy supporters. “We are counting the days until we will be free,” cried one woman, as the convoy passed.
This article appeared in the The Americas section of the print edition under the headline “María Corina’s voter army”
From the July 13th 2024 edition
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