The Venezuelan military statement Brazil on Tuesday recognised its “absolute loyalty” to socialist dictator Nicolas Maduro, who claims he was “legitimately re-elected” in a sham July 28 presidential election.
statement Released This was in response to a document published on Monday by opposition leader Maria Corina Machado and presidential candidate Edmundo Gonzalez, which called on the Venezuelan military to stop repressing protesters and thwart Maduro’s attempts to stage a coup by refusing to acknowledge his electoral defeat.
This document as a result As it opens criminal investigations into two Venezuelan opposition leaders, it is urging the Venezuelan military to accept Gonzalez as Venezuela’s “next president,” based on evidence presented by the Venezuelan opposition that he defeated Maduro in the election.
Venezuelan Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino Lopez, along with other senior military officials, read the armed forces’ statement on Tuesday afternoon. On behalf of the Venezuelan army and police, which serve the Maduro regime, Padrino Lopez strongly rejected the “desperate and inflammatory statements” in the document signed by Machado and Gonzalez, and described Machado as a “far-right” figure.
The statement reads:
First of all, it is important to point out that those who claim to be democrats today have a long and dark history as promoters of radical, completely unconstitutional and anti-democratic actions that go against all laws and the highest interests of the Venezuelan people.
The statement also criticized Venezuela’s opposition for calling for international military intervention in Venezuela and sanctions against the Maduro regime, which it said “the US empire and its allies have imposed on our country for more than a decade.”
“It is therefore ironic on its face that this insurgent wing of Venezuela’s opposition is trying to assume a cloak of legality that it has never practiced before,” Padrino Lopez read from the statement.
Maduro’s military chief went on to say it was “repulsive” that Machado and Gonzalez had “incited” soldiers and police officers “whom they have always despised” to “not obey the law and, ironically, urge them to side with history and the people.”
Ironic policies, these mismo sectors will increase police oversight, to have military effect and political influence, to establish a constitution, which is the most important issue. No pasaran! pic.twitter.com/ikblMQRsqq
— Vladimir Padrino L. (@vladimirpadrino) August 6, 2024
A statement read by Venezuela’s defence minister claimed the country’s army and police were “most affected” by the violence of the protests.
That is why it is even more insulting and hurtful to mention the families of these selfless servicemen and women, who are justifiably outraged by the barbaric, fascist destabilization program they are unleashing, which has left children orphaned and families with significant psychological trauma. These cases will not go unpunished and will be met with the iron grip of justice.
The ongoing protests against the Maduro regime are the result of a fake election on July 28. Maduro has responded to the peaceful protests with a brutal campaign of repression, as a result At least 24 people died, detention According to dictator Maduro, more than 2,000 people sent To “re-education” camps.
“It is necessary to reiterate that the presidential elections of July 28 last year were conducted with the highest standards of transparency, with the attendance of more than 900 international observers and representatives of all registered candidates,” the military said in a statement, claiming the sham election was an “extraordinary demonstration of civil rights.”
Despite Maduro being declared the “winner” of the election, Venezuela’s National Electoral Commission (CNE) has not released any results or tallies confirming the socialist dictator’s victory.
Venezuela’s opposition disputed the alleged results and accused Maduro of trying to steal the election. On July 28, the opposition released voter count data purportedly obtained from polling stations across the country that showed that Gonzalez had in fact defeated Maduro by more than 30 percentage points.
Several countries, including the United States, Argentina, Chile, Peru, Ecuador, Panama, Guatemala and European Union countries, have questioned Maduro’s alleged “victory”.
Maduro Claimed The protests against Maduro’s “victory” are part of a conspiracy by “international Zionism,” which he claims is funding “far-right” groups in Venezuela to stage a coup to overthrow him with the help of “social networks” and “satellites.”
The Venezuelan military statement concluded by affirming the soldiers’ “absolute loyalty” to Maduro, who is Venezuela’s “constitutional president” and “commander in chief” of the armed forces, whom they said was “legitimately re-elected by the power of the people and declared by electoral mandate to serve the next presidential term from 2025 to 2031.”
The statement added:
At the same time, we [Maduro’s] The republican spirit solve The election dispute will be resolved through the Supreme Court, which will have the final say, once again proving the strength of the country’s democratic institutions.
Padrino Lopez has been the Maduro government’s defense minister since October 2014. Accused The United States has accused Venezuela of being part of the Cartel of the Suns, an intercontinental cocaine trafficking ring run by senior Venezuelan military officials and members of the ruling United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV).
Padrino Lopez was indicted on narco-terrorism charges by U.S. authorities in 2020. According to an indictment in the District of Columbia, Padrino Lopez conspired with others to distribute cocaine aboard U.S.-registered aircraft between 2014 and 2019.
Maduro share A copy of the military statement posted on the Twitter account spoke of the armed forces having an “unwavering commitment” to “protecting the Venezuelan people and defending the homeland from fascists.”
