(Photo by an anonymous photographer, taken in Prague, Czech Republic, August 17, 2024).
Venezuelans are known for their delicious arepas, quick wit, love of dance, and strong national pride. In the summer of 2024, another side became more prominent—one of frustration over a homeland still not free and a resolve to fight for change for a future shaped by the will of the Venezuelan people. The Venezuelan flag began to appear across social media in the summer of 2024 alongside the hashtag #FreeVenezuela. What happened?
Stolen Elections in Venezuela, Again
After President Nicolás Maduro took office in 2013, Venezuela suffered a devastating economic collapse, with the country’s GDP falling by more than 73%. Since 2014, around 8 million Venezuelans have fled the country. Skyrocketing inflation, shortages of essential goods, services, and medicine, as well as political repression and violence, have driven this exodus.
In the political arena, María Corina Machado, a leading opposition figure, was barred from running in the recent presidential elections. Perhaps Maduro, having witnessed the success of Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya in Belarus against her country’s dictator, learned not to underestimate women opposition candidates. The regime-backed National Electoral Council (CNE) disqualified Machado, and former diplomat Edmundo González replaced her.
In 2024, Venezuela declared Maduro the winner of the election, securing a third term through contested means. Independent observers were denied access to verify the vote count or receive copies of the results. Venezuela’s CNE announced that of the 80% of votes counted, Maduro garnered 51%, achieving a majority over opposition leader Gonzalez, who was said to have secured approximately 44% of the vote. However, the opposition claims Gonzalez actually won 80% of the vote.
International Condemnation and Rising Tensions
The Organization of American States, the European Union, and 22 other countries called for an “impartial verification” of the election results. They requested access to election records, but their calls have been unanswered.
The Czech Foreign Ministry criticized the election irregularities, intimidation of political opponents, and human rights violations. Having experienced around 40 years of totalitarian rule, the people of the Czech Republic understand the importance of sustained political pressure and international support.
Voting irregularities and repression are not new to elections in Venezuela, but these seem to be more overt than in the past. Since the disputed election, police arrested over 2,400 people, and more than two dozen have lost their lives.
On January 10, 2025, Maduro was sworn in despite the refusal of many Latin American countries, the European Union, and Canada to recognize the election results. Fourteen countries have recalled their ambassadors from Venezuela and imposed new economic sanctions on the regime. The presidents of Colombia and Brazil also declined the inauguration invitation, citing concerns over the lack of transparency and fairness in the election process.
Venezuela’s Mass Exodus
Today, around 2,000 people continue to leave Venezuela every day. The United Nations has called this “the largest exodus in Latin America’s recent history and one of the largest displacement crises in the world.” The Venezuelan diaspora represents more than a quarter of the country’s population.
Around 500 Venezuelan people reside in the Czech Republic. Sergio, a Venezuelan living in Prague, shared why he decided to leave his home country in 2018 and how his experiences have shaped his activism and political views.
“In 2018, basic services such as public transit, electricity, and water collapsed, and there was no news about it. We never knew when it would happen, which made it all the more shocking to experience regularly. Sometimes, I’d get a call from a family member around 4:00 PM saying public transit had stopped running, so I’d have to walk home. Many people would leave the office early to make it home. It was quite a distance. And I’m a fit person without mobility issues.”
A report by Amnesty International reveals that at least 44.8% of children do not attend school regularly, largely due to the underfunding and understaffing of public schools, as well as low wages for teachers. Additionally, nearly 72.4% of public health centers face shortages of medicines, equipment, and staff.
Sergio went on to explain that beyond the immediate infrastructure and public funding challenges, there were also limited professional growth opportunities. His employer could only offer a salary that covered basic necessities. As the primary financial provider for his family, he realized that he couldn’t secure their future or achieve his goals unless he left.
Sergio does not believe that the circumstances of Venezuela made his departure a voluntary decision, “I see it more as a forced migration.”
Resistance From Home and Abroad
Since the disputed election, Venezuelans have leveraged social media to organize protests. This has sparked global calls for free and fair elections while countering regime misinformation, strategically influencing foreign policy.
The disputed election set in motion widespread protests both in Venezuela and abroad. However, it is important to recognize that these protests are part of a longer history of resistance. For instance, in 2023, there were 6,956 protests—an average of about 19 per day—80% of which called for economic and social rights. What is new is the strategic use of social media to foster an organized transnational movement.
On August 17, 2024, and in over 300 cities globally, the Venezuelan flag was waved with chants calling for freedom on the global day of protest. From Venezuela and Colombia to Mexico, South Korea, Portugal, Germany, the Czech Republic, and the United States, Venezuelans and their allies have called for free and fair elections. One of the largest protests in Europe occurred in Madrid, where approximately 70,000 Venezuelans live.
The global protest, sparked by Machado and the opposition’s call, gained momentum, with approximately 2.3 million people participating globally. Sergio recalled, “We got together in different parts of the world, for me in Prague, to share what’s happening and raise awareness about the situation.”
Countering Misinformation
“Private media in Venezuela cannot report on what’s happening in the country. If the military were shooting at people protesting, national television would be airing telenovelas, music videos and celebrity gossip. Media channels that spoke out against the government were shut down. The only way to get informed in Venezuela is through social media, not national news,” said Sergio.
Venezuelan comedians Angelo Colina and Francisco Ramos have also turned to social media to raise awareness about the issues and expose misinformation from the regime. They have used their platforms to disrupt authoritarian narratives and to counter propaganda.
Joseph Bouchard, a journalist and security consultant based in Latin America, noted the increased organization of the opposition this past year, with civil society groups registering voters and independently monitoring the vote count to gain international concessions.
The movement has evolved into a transnational force, uniting voices worldwide against authoritarianism. In response to the protests, Maduro’s regime launched violent crackdowns, targeting civilians, journalists, union workers, and human rights defenders. The crisis has intensified the lack of security and safety for Indigenous Peoples, LGBTQ+ individuals, women and girls.
Reimagined Futures
Military support has historically been crucial for maintaining control in Venezuela. Sergio noted that while older generations back military leaders, millennials and younger generations do not. He added, “This generational divide is part of why change won’t come soon.”
The scarcity fostered by the current system seems to stifle collective resistance. At the same time, the growing rift between generations highlights the challenges Maduro faces in securing long-term stability as younger generations distance themselves from military-backed leadership.
Sergio expressed his desire for a democratic Venezuela, where free elections are possible and subject to international audits. For many Venezuelans, the dream is to return to a home that is free.
Venezuelans are not only resisting an oppressive regime but also actively imagining political futures that break free from authoritarian control. This resistance is not without its challenges, as deepening authoritarianism weakens institutions, limits pathways for meaningful change, and heightens violence against vulnerable populations.
Experts like Joseph Bouchard, once a proponent of diplomatic engagements, now argue that regime change is the only solution, achievable through force or a negotiated deal.
Regardless of how it unfolds, one thing is clear: Under Maduro, the world will witness not only a new wave of Venezuelan migration but also a diaspora steadfast and unwavering in Venezuelans’ pursuit of change. Venezuelans worldwide are reimagining futures free from authoritarianism and fear—one shaped by transnational dialogue and collective action for a free Venezuela.
Edited by Light Naing
