Latest news with #MariaCorinaMachado
Free Malaysia Today
2 days ago
- Politics
- Free Malaysia Today
Maduro's party sweeps Venezuelan mayoral vote as opposition boycotts
Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro casts his vote during municipal elections in Caracas yesterday. (AP pic) CARACAS : Venezuela's ruling party won the majority of mayoral seats yesterday in elections boycotted by the main opposition, coinciding with the anniversary of president Nicolas Maduro's re-election last year. The ruling United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV) won 285 of 335 mayoralties, according to Maduro's own projections, which he celebrated with supporters early today in Caracas's Bolivar Square. 'Victory, popular victory!' Maduro shouted. 'Democracy and peace, the unity of the people, have triumphed.' The country's electoral authority, accused of loyalty to Maduro, put turnout at 44%. That represents just over 6 million voters, although polling stations in several cities showed low turnout throughout the day. In one year, Maduro has won the presidency, absolute control of parliament, 23 of 24 governorships and now municipal power. Opposition leader Maria Corina Machado, whose candidate lost to Maduro in the presidential election last year, said on X: 'What happened between July 28, 2024, and today?' 'That day, 70% of the country voted for EDMUNDO GONZALEZ, and today, 90% said NO to MADURO,' referring to what she said was the abstention rate. A dissident wing of Machado's movement participated in the elections and, according to Maduro, won 50 mayoralties. 'The new opposition,' the president declared, while the opposition leader branded them Maduro collaborators. Maduro plans to lead a demonstration today to celebrate the anniversary of his victory, which the US and a dozen other countries did not recognise. 'Maduro is NOT the President of Venezuela and his regime is NOT the legitimate government,' US secretary of state Marco Rubio said on X yesterday, calling the president the leader of a 'narco-terror' organisation. This month, Washington and Caracas negotiated a prisoner swap that saw the release of 10 Americans and US residents imprisoned in Venezuela for 252 Venezuelan migrants detained in a notorious prison in El Salvador.
France 24
2 days ago
- Politics
- France 24
Maduro's party sweeps Venezuela mayoral vote as opposition boycotts
The ruling United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV) won 285 of 335 mayoralties, according to Maduro's own projections, which he celebrated with supporters early Monday in Caracas's Bolivar Square. "Victory, popular victory!" Maduro shouted. "Democracy and peace, the unity of the people, have triumphed." The country's electoral authority, accused of loyalty to Maduro, put turnout at 44 percent. That represents just over six million voters, although polling stations in several cities showed low turnout throughout the day. In one year, Maduro has won the presidency, absolute control of parliament, 23 of 24 governorships and now municipal power. Opposition leader Maria Corina Machado, whose candidate lost to Maduro in the presidential election last year, said on X: "What happened between July 28, 2024, and today?" "That day, 70 percent of the country voted for EDMUNDO GONZALEZ, and today, 90 percent said NO to MADURO," referring to what she said was the abstention rate. A dissident wing of Machado's movement participated in the elections and, according to Maduro, won 50 mayoralties. "The new opposition," the president declared, while the opposition leader branded them Maduro collaborators. Maduro plans to lead a demonstration Monday to celebrate the anniversary of his victory, which the United States and a dozen other countries did not recognise. "Maduro is NOT the President of Venezuela and his regime is NOT the legitimate government," US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on X Sunday, calling the president the leader of a "narco-terror" organisation. This month, Washington and Caracas negotiated a prisoner swap that saw the release of 10 Americans and US residents imprisoned in Venezuela for 252 Venezuelan migrants detained in a notorious prison in El Salvador.
Fox News
3 days ago
- Politics
- Fox News
Sen. Scott touts Florida's 'land of opportunity' amid NYC socialism rise
Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla. joins 'Fox & Friends Weekend' to discuss his push to move New Yorkers to Florida, the GOP aiming to confirm President Donald Trump's nominees and his meeting with Venezuelan leader Maria Corina Machado.
Yahoo
28-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Venezuelan opposition member details harrowing 400-day captivity at UN
Pedro Urruchurtu spoke to the United Nations Human Rights Council on Friday about what he had endured at the hands of Nicolás Maduro's regime while being forced to shelter in place for over 400 days. Urruchurtu and four other members of Venezuela's political opposition were freed in May in a successful U.S. rescue mission. He and his colleagues were effectively trapped inside the Argentine Embassy in Caracas — where the opposition members fled to, and were sheltered due to the diplomatic status of the embassy. The opposition figures were under siege by regime forces who made their lives extremely difficult due to their control of the utilities. Urruchurtu told the council he had endured "five months without electricity, three minutes of water every ten days, rifles pointed at the windows, and dogs trained to bite; only because those in power considered it a crime to direct the campaigns of Maria Corina Machado in the opposition primaries and Edmundo González in the presidential elections. Both won." Opinion: America Needs A Venezuela Deal That Only President Trump Can Deliver "Today I am here despite the state, and not thanks to it, because if it were up to it, I would be missing or dead," Urruchurtu said. United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk told the council that since May 1, 2024, the human rights situation in Venezuela has only gotten worse. The people have experienced "arbitrary detentions, violations of due process and enforced disappearances, amid continued allegations of torture and ill-treatment." Read On The Fox News App Türk revealed that his office had documented 32 people — 15 of them adolescents — who reported being tortured and ill-treated in detention. He also noted that 28 people had been subjected to enforced disappearance after the country's parliamentary elections, which took place in May 2025. He said their whereabouts remain unknown and that at least 12 of them were foreign nationals who "do not have access to consular assistance." Venezuelan Opposition Promises Reparations To Laken Riley's Family, Other Victims Of Tren De Aragua Violence "The world must no longer look away from the brutal reality of what the once-beautiful Venezuela has become. Nicolás Maduro and his enforcers are running a criminal narco-terrorist dictatorship that jails political opponents, tortures dissidents, and crushes any hope of free expression. Pedro's voice today represents the cries of thousands of Venezuelans who remain imprisoned, persecuted or forced into exile, as slaves to the regime," UN Watch Executive Director Hillel Neuer told Fox News Digital. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced in a post on X on May 6 that the opposition members, including Urruchurtu, had been rescued in "a precise operation" and brought to the U.S. A few weeks later, Rubio met with the released opposition members. State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce said that Rubio had commended the Venezuelan opposition members for their "bravery in the face of Maduro's relentless repression and tyranny." Neuer also expressed gratitude for the Trump administration and Rubio's actions, which led to Urruchurtu's release. "Thank you to the Trump administration and the Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, for their critical role in securing Pedro's release and the release of his comrades. Once again, proving that strong, principled diplomacy saves lives and advances the cause of freedom for the world," Neuer told Fox News article source: Venezuelan opposition member details harrowing 400-day captivity at UN
Fox News
27-06-2025
- Politics
- Fox News
Venezuelan opposition member details harrowing 400-day captivity at UN
Pedro Urruchurtu spoke to the United Nations Human Rights Council on Friday about what he had endured at the hands of Nicolás Maduro's regime while being forced to shelter in place for over 400 days. Urruchurtu and four other members of Venezuela's political opposition were freed in May in a successful U.S. rescue mission. He and his colleagues were effectively trapped inside the Argentine Embassy in Caracas — where the opposition members fled to, and were sheltered due to the diplomatic status of the embassy. The opposition figures were under siege by regime forces who made their lives extremely difficult due to their control of the utilities. Urruchurtu told the council he had endured "five months without electricity, three minutes of water every ten days, rifles pointed at the windows, and dogs trained to bite; only because those in power considered it a crime to direct the campaigns of Maria Corina Machado in the opposition primaries and Edmundo González in the presidential elections. Both won." "Today I am here despite the state, and not thanks to it, because if it were up to it, I would be missing or dead," Urruchurtu said. United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk told the council that since May 1, 2024, the human rights situation in Venezuela has only gotten worse. The people have experienced "arbitrary detentions, violations of due process and enforced disappearances, amid continued allegations of torture and ill-treatment." Türk revealed that his office had documented 32 people — 15 of them adolescents — who reported being tortured and ill-treated in detention. He also noted that 28 people had been subjected to enforced disappearance after the country's parliamentary elections, which took place in May 2025. He said their whereabouts remain unknown and that at least 12 of them were foreign nationals who "do not have access to consular assistance." "The world must no longer look away from the brutal reality of what the once-beautiful Venezuela has become. Nicolás Maduro and his enforcers are running a criminal narco-terrorist dictatorship that jails political opponents, tortures dissidents, and crushes any hope of free expression. Pedro's voice today represents the cries of thousands of Venezuelans who remain imprisoned, persecuted or forced into exile, as slaves to the regime," UN Watch Executive Director Hillel Neuer told Fox News Digital. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced in a post on X on May 6 that the opposition members, including Urruchurtu, had been rescued in "a precise operation" and brought to the U.S. A few weeks later, Rubio met with the released opposition members. State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce said that Rubio had commended the Venezuelan opposition members for their "bravery in the face of Maduro's relentless repression and tyranny." Neuer also expressed gratitude for the Trump administration and Rubio's actions, which led to Urruchurtu's release. "Thank you to the Trump administration and the Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, for their critical role in securing Pedro's release and the release of his comrades. Once again, proving that strong, principled diplomacy saves lives and advances the cause of freedom for the world," Neuer told Fox News Digital.
