U.S. Institute of Peace

08/15/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 08/15/2024 13:56

In Venezuela, Nonviolent Action Is Key to a Negotiated Democratic Transition

On July 28, Venezuela held one of the most consequential elections in its history. The country's political opposition, led by Maria Corina Machado, overcame popular disillusionment, political divides and a rigged electoral system to earn a landslide victory for its unity candidate, Edmundo González Urrutia. According to one civil society group, estimates "extrapolated from the official vote count receipts" from a representative sample of local voting centers give González 66% of the vote. Venezuela's opposition met the moment with an inspired pro-democracy campaign.