Venezuelan Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino giving a statement to the press condemning post-electoral far-right violence and recognizing the electoral victory of President Nicolas Maduro. Caracas, July 30, 2024. Photo: IG/@dpresidenciave.
Venezuelan Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino López condemned the coup d’état promoted by the far right. “We are in the presence, as I say, of a coup d’état plotted once again by the fascist extremist right, supported by the empire, US imperialism and its allies, a coup d’état in the making,” said Padrino in a press conference, accompanied by the high command of the Bolivarian National Armed Force (FANB).
In the press conference held on Tuesday, July 30, Minister Padrino said that the president of Venezuela, Nicolás Maduro, has taken the lead of the law enforcement response “to stop this one more time.”
He continued, “And together with him are the people of Venezuela who elected him for the next presidential term. The institutions, the Bolivarian National Armed Force, all the democratic institutions of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela are with him.”
The defense minister emphasized that this coup d’état will be defeated. “Nothing can defeat the conscience of an entire people, the moral strength of an institution like ours, the Bolivarian National Armed Force,” he said.
Hacemos un llamado a la paz, un llamado a respetar la decisión del pueblo venezolano que se expresó el 28 de julio en defensa de la paz y la reconciliación nacional. El golpe de Estado fascista dirigido desde las redes sociales, está siendo derrotado en las calles ¡Venceremos! pic.twitter.com/aRdfXxDITs
— Vladimir Padrino L. (@vladimirpadrino) July 30, 2024
He added that extreme right-wing factions always resort to fascism and do not recognize the pacifist vocation of the Venezuelan people. “The people of Venezuela have the leading voice here. They have voted for peace,” he said.
Call to reflection
Minister Padrino called upon the violent factions to reflect and to “return to the path of constitutional democracy.” He added that the Venezuelan people voted on Sunday, using peaceful means and not “bullets and violence.”
“I call on all political factions, especially this subversive faction that has done so much harm to Venezuela, to return to the democratic and constitutional path, so that we can honor the people of Venezuela who are asking us for understanding, coexistence and dialogue,” he said.
He also reiterated that President Maduro had announced his intention to call for an expanded, sincere, face-to-face national dialogue.
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Condemnation of violence
The minister read a statement in which the Bolivarian National Armed Force strongly condemns the violent acts committed by the extreme right since Monday in various regions of the country.
He also confirmed the armed forces’ unconditional support and loyalty to the head of state.
Unofficial translation of the full statement is below:
The Bolivarian National Armed Force strongly condemns the violent acts perpetrated by the Venezuelan extreme right since yesterday, Monday, July 29, in different regions of the country, after the end of the 2024 Presidential Election process.
Without a doubt, these terrorist acts of sabotage against the headquarters of public bodies, including hundreds of electoral centers, offices of the National Electoral Council, private buildings, military and police barracks as well as the destruction of electoral machines and material, symbols of national identity such as the Indio Coromoto statue in Guanare and busts of Commander Chávez, among others, are expressions of hatred and irrationality that are part of a preconceived plan by political groups that knew that they lost. They also represent an attempt at a media coup d’état, supported by social media platforms and backed by US imperialism and its external and internal allies.
Unquestionably, we are in the presence of fascism in its maximum expression, of an international structure that is investing hundreds of millions of dollars to discredit the extraordinary demonstration of civility by the Venezuelan people in the election, which was attended by more than 900 international observers and representatives of the different parties that registered their candidates within the framework of the constitutionally established electoral regulations.
As is well known, history has clearly shown that the script of violence does not lead to anything positive. The riots of recent years only caused the death of innocent people and considerable material damage. The pseudo-leaders and criminal organizations that encourage those who are on this dark path cowardly hide while employing armed criminals and mercenaries trained abroad to carry out their macabre plans. Many of them have already been fully identified, arrested and prosecuted. This time would be no different. It should be noted that at the moment we already have 23 military personnel and 25 police officers wounded, who are receiving the necessary medical attention. Sergeant José Antonio Torrents Blanca, a member of the Bolivarian National Guard, died from a gunshot wound to the neck. Our condolences and solidarity go out to all those affected.
The FANB reiterates its unwavering commitment to peace. However, we will act decisively in perfect civic-military-police unity to preserve internal order throughout the national territory, always within the framework of the Constitution and the laws and respect for human rights. In this regard, we call on citizens not to fall into provocations or manipulations that foment violence and intolerance.
We reaffirm our absolute loyalty and unconditional support to citizen Nicolás Maduro Moros, Constitutional President of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, our Commander-in-Chief, who has been legitimately reelected by the People’s Power and proclaimed by the Electoral Power for the next presidential term 2025-2031.
Chavez lives… the Homeland lives on! Independence and a Socialist Homeland! We will live and win! The Sun of Venezuela rises in the Essequibo! Independence or nothing! Always loyal… Never traitors!
Caracas, July 30, 2024
VLADIMIR PADRINO LOPEZ
Major General
(Últimas Noticias) by María Eugenia Rodríguez
Translation: Orinoco Tribune
OT/JRE/MCM
