President Maduro so far has shown his firmness in combating the opposition propaganda. The army is loyal to him, the security forces have dealt with the demonstrations held by the opposition supporters decrying the election of Maduro. As of now, reports indicate that the opposition rallies are limited to a few cities and the number of participants is on decline.

Earlier also after 2019 presidential elections, President Maduro faced the same problem when the then defeated opposition nominee Juan Guaido declared himself as the elected President and got support from the western nations and a few members of the Organisation of American States (OAS). The situation did not last long. President Maduro, through his diplomatic efforts and back channel discussions with US fused the situation and the so called opposition’ President’ retreated.

In 2024 August, after the latest elections, immediate support came to Maduro from Russia, China, Cuba, Bolivia, Honduras but some left ruled Latin American countries including Chile, Brazil and even Mexico were cautious. They wanted transparency by releasing the detailed figures of the voting which the Election Commission did not release. The presidents of these nations strongly condemned the efforts by the far right in destabilizing the government in Venezuela and opposed any intervention by the US or other western countries, but at the same time, they stood by the democratic norms for holding elections so that it could reflect the people’s choice.

On July 31, Honduras Foreign Minister Enrique Reina issued an important statement on behalf of the government with regards to developments in Venezuela, saying: “The government of Honduras condemns any attempted coup d’etat in Venezuela — and the use of force by violent groups, calling for respect for the institutions and sovereign will of the Venezuelan people expressed at the polls.”

It goes on to say that, “the electoral process was peaceful and had wide participation. We have recognised the announcement by the electoral authority of an irreversible trend, the only authority responsible for concluding the process of counting…” And adds that “the international campaign launched before, during and after to ignore elections, loaded with fake news and resulting from those who were not present in the process, is not impartial.”

It concludes: “We have to wait for the total analysis and declaration from the electoral authority,” and warns that “we must not forget the shameful precedent of recognising Juan Guaido as an illegitimate, illegal and non-existent president for purely ideological reasons.” This new statement was followed soon by Honduras’s elected President Xiomara Castro, congratulating the incumbent Nicolas Maduro on his “victory that reaffirms Venezuela’s sovereignty.”

This strong intervention from Honduras, a country which suffered after its own US-backed, right-wing 2009 coup and didn’t then restore a progressive president until 2021, follows similar warnings from former Bolivian president Evo Morales soon after the election of Maduro as President.. Bolivia’s present left wing President Luis Arce also congratulated Maduro and condemned all efforts by the far right opposition to oppose his new presidency.

Among the Latin American left movement, there are differing approaches about some of the authoritarian acts of President Maduro which affected even his allies in the coalition, but the left allies are united in resisting any far right attack against the Venezuelan Government.

A joint statement issued by the left wing social movements in Latin America including Brazil said: “We repudiate any attempt at foreign intervention and internal destabilisation through violence, fake news and manipulation. We respect and defend democracy, truth and the sovereign Venezuelan people.”

The statement was signed by 11 movements representing millions of people, including the world’s largest social movement, Brazil’s Landless Workers Movement (the MST), plus the massive Central dos Trabalhadores do Brasil trade union centre, representing over 900 unions, and the youth wing of the governing Workers Party (PT.)

Additionally, Alicia Castro — prominent opponent of the far right in Argentina — said on the role of the pro-US right-wing opposition in Venezuela that “they will create another coup group like that Lima Group: they will continue to receive advice and financing from the United States and perhaps they will even set up a fake president like Juan Guaido. But they will not defeat the Venezuelan people, who, really, do not want to be a colony.”

In sum, there is total unanimity among the left movement about fighting jointly against the far right in Latin American countries including Venezuela but at the same they want that President Maduro should be more amenable to the suggestions of his allies and build a solid unity of left forces against the far right based on consultations. Right is in ascendency in every part of the world including Latin America. The leftwing ruling parties including in Venezuela will have to show more willingness to work in unison in the big fight against far right and their mentors. (IPA Service)