Back in August, a few weeks after Venezuelan President Nicol谩s Maduro claimed victory in a bid for reelection, his critics stirred a global outcry. Opposition leaders posted polling station results on social media suggesting the unpopular autocrat had lost in a drubbing. In cities around the world and within the South American country itself, people marched.
They called it the 鈥淕reat Protest for the Truth.鈥�
That push for election integrity received new nudges this week. On Tuesday, the Biden administration recognized Venezuela鈥檚 main opposition candidate, Edmundo Gonz谩lez Urrutia, as 鈥減resident-elect.鈥� Simultaneously, in neighboring Colombia, President Gustavo Petro called the July 28 election 鈥渁 mistake.鈥� He had already declared the vote not 鈥渇ree.鈥�
Those gestures follow recognition by the European Parliament in September of Mr. Gonz谩lez 鈥渁s the country鈥檚 legitimate and democratically elected president.鈥� Several international election observer missions, including The Carter Center, have supported that verdict.
Venezuela has been here before. Five years ago, another opposition leader, Juan Guaid贸, claimed victory. Fifty-seven countries ultimately recognized him as interim president. That failed to force change. Yet this time may be different.
Many of Venezuela鈥檚 closest regional allies have rejected Mr. Maduro鈥檚 claims and are demanding publication of ballot tallies. In September, a federal court in Argentina ordered the arrest of Mr. Maduro and several close associates for crimes against humanity. In Chile, President Gabriel Boric condemned Venezuela鈥檚 Supreme Court, packed with Maduro loyalists, and accused it of 鈥渃onsolidating the fraud.鈥�
The force behind this shift may be coming from ordinary citizens. Across the region, Latin Americans have toppled one incumbent government after another, demanding honesty and equality.
鈥淟atin America may be at a crossroads,鈥� noted David Recondo, editor of an annual regional survey conducted by the Center for International Studies at Science Po, a French university. 鈥淭here is a lot of dissatisfaction with the governing elites and the ruling classes, which are seen as corrupt and inefficient.鈥� High voter turnout, he said in an interview on the center鈥檚 website in March, reflects popular demands for 鈥渞espect for the results of the ballot box and fundamental rights.鈥�
Recognition of his apparent victory by the United States and Europe may not be enough to put Mr. Gonz谩lez, who has fled to Spain, in power in January when Mr. Maduro鈥檚 current term ends. The autocrat still has strong backing from China, Russia, Iran, and a handful of regional tyrants. But sweeping postelection crackdowns against his critics show that Mr. Maduro may be feeling his isolation. 鈥淗e desperately needs international recognition and legitimacy,鈥� Mois茅s Na铆m, a Venezuelan former trade minister, told The Guardian.
The country鈥檚 charismatic opposition leader, Mar铆a Corina Machado, senses an opening. Banned by Mr. Maduro from running in the election, she rallied support behind Mr. Gonz谩lez. She has now gone underground. Undaunted in her quest to restore democracy, she wields a powerful tool.
鈥淚 am willing to do what has to be done,鈥� she told The New York Times this week from an undisclosed location, 鈥渇or as long as it takes to assert the truth and popular sovereignty.鈥�
Mark Sappenfield
