Rubén Chirino Leañez, CEO of the Venezuelan polling firm Meganalysis, stated on Wednesday that leftist protests supporting imprisoned former dictator Nicolás Maduro do not accurately reflect the views of the Venezuelan people.
A poll released by Meganalysis, surveying various regions including the Federal District of Caracas, showed that a significant majority support President Trump’s initiative to arrest Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, both wanted in the United States on drug-related terrorism charges. Additionally, most respondents favored the U.S. becoming Venezuela’s primary ally and trading partner, as well as dismantling the socialist security system and empowering opposition leader Maria Colina Machado, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate.
Regarding gratitude towards Trump, a remarkable 92.2% of Venezuelans surveyed expressed “yes” to the operation against Maduro, which reportedly did not harm civilians. Only 6.3% were opposed, and a mere 1.5% were uncertain.
When the survey inquired if respondents felt threatened or compelled to stay silent under the current regime of Maduro’s government, mostly led now by “Vice President” Delcy Rodriguez, 83.5% replied affirmatively. This statistic suggests that even the 6.3% who claimed not to feel grateful towards Trump might be overstated.
Another intriguing finding indicated strong support for cooperation with the U.S., reminiscent of the pre-1999 era before Hugo Chávez’s rule. When asked if the U.S. should become a major ally and sole supplier of goods to Venezuela, an overwhelming 90.6% agreed, while only 7.3% disagreed.
This starkly contrasts with the leftist protests that erupted in various Western cities following Maduro’s arrest on January 3. From Buenos Aires to New York, socialist rallies were organized to demand Maduro’s freedom, with Rodriguez and infamous enforcer Diosdado Cabello — who also faces drug charges — claiming their release was necessary, labeling their detention as “kidnapping.”
Interestingly, none of the protests displayed a notable Venezuelan presence; instead, some were fueled by Venezuelan exiles who found themselves surrounded by demonstrators unable to articulate their connection to Venezuela or share personal accounts of suffering under socialism.
A Venezuelan living in Buenos Aires expressed confusion over the presence of demonstrators waving Venezuelan flags. “Are they really Venezuelan? Do they even know what’s happening back home?” the individual reacted, expressing disbelief over the defense of a dictator with such a notorious record.
In a conversation with Breitbart News, Chirino Leañez passionately contended that the social sciences he’s studied reveal that discontent with leftist protests is more representative of Venezuela than the supporters of Maduro. He emphasized that these protests are “not representative at all.” He argued, “I assure you, Venezuela might be one of the least left-leaning countries globally.” He continued by saying this impression may contradict observations of the socialist regime there but noted the country has been taken over by a leftist government.
“Only 6 to 7 percent of Venezuelans support this,” he added, suggesting that this small percentage is heavily influenced by government pressure. He asserted that without intimidation from armed pro-government groups, “91 or 92 percent of Venezuelans would be out protesting.”
Chirino remarked that the majority of those protesting are not authentic Venezuelans, but rather individuals with left-leaning tendencies. He said, “I believe only around 3 or 4 percent of the population identifies as true leftists, not motivated by clients of the state,” asserting that the ongoing protests worldwide do not represent the Venezuelan public.
The small percentage of true leftists mentioned corresponds closely to the backing of Cabello, who continues to wield power while armed groups instill fear in Caracas after Maduro’s arrest. The polling results revealed that only 2.9% of respondents would trust Cabello as a leader, whereas 90.9% said “Nobody.” Moreover, 93.5% disapproved of Delcy Rodriguez leading any potential transition from Maduro, casting doubt on her legitimacy.
While Trump has claimed that the U.S. is effectively controlling the Venezuelan situation, a majority of poll participants rejected this notion, with 66.9% believing that the Chávez faction remains in control.
“Such perceptions stem from state-sanctioned fear imposed by Chavismo,” Chirino stated. He added that genuine control by the U.S. is closely linked to the release of hostages and the end of Venezuela’s oppressive practices.
Trump is reportedly set to meet with opposition leader Machado at the White House, reaffirming his commitment to help end Maduro’s prolonged reign of hardship and violence spanning over a decade.
