Venezuela opposition calls to resist, Maduro celebrates on election anniversary

Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado called Monday (July 28, 2025) for “clandestine” resistance against President Nicolas Maduro on the anniversary of his disputed re-election.

Electoral authorities declared Maduro winner of the July 2024 election despite allegations of fraud and without releasing a detailed breakdown of voting results.

The Venezuelan opposition says their candidate Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia is the true winner. The ex-diplomat fled into exile after the election, while Ms. Machado — who was barred from standing in the election — has gone into hiding.

Speaking in a social media video, Ms. Machado accused Mr. Maduro of being “so afraid of being invaded” and overthrown, but said millions of people already in Venezuela will remove him from power.

Venezuelan authorities frequently accuse Ms. Machado of leading conspiracies against Mr. Maduro.

Nearly 1,000 leaders, including from Ms. Machado’s closest circle, have been detained since the election.

Ms. Machado called for “the clandestine organization of all structures within Venezuela” to disobey tyranny and prepare for civic action “when the time comes.”

Her opposition group had called for boycott of the May 25 parliamentary and gubernatorial elections, as well as mayoral elections held last weekend.

Mr. Maduro’s party won handily in both contests, and he gathered outside the presidential palace Miraflores to celebrate the wins on Monday.

Mr. Maduro slapped back at criticism.

“Enough of fascism, no more conspiracies, no more calls for foreign interventions, no more economic war, enough of fascism, enough of violence. Venezuela wants work, prosperity and to move forward on the path of unity,” Mr. Maduro said.

On July 29, 2025, Venezuela witnessed a stark illustration of its sharply divided political landscape. Opposition leader María Corina Machado, still in hiding, issued a bold rallying cry for “clandestine resistance” against President Nicolás Maduro, while the embattled leader marked the anniversary of his contested re-election with a public celebration at the presidential palace.

Calls for Resistance

In a video message shared on social media, Machado denounced Maduro’s administration as oppressive and declared:

“Millions of people already in Venezuela will remove him from power.”

She urged opposition supporters to quietly organize—”clandestine organization of all structures within Venezuela”—to disobey the regime and prepare for civic action “when the time comes.” Machado’s words highlighted a deeply entrenched belief in the importance of underground networks to counter what many see as a tyrannical regime BSS.

Her resistance comes against a backdrop of sweeping repression: since the July 2024 election, nearly 1,000 opposition leaders, as well as civil society members, have been detained or persecuted BSSLe Monde.fr.

Maduro’s Triumph and A Defiant Message

Elsewhere, President Maduro staged a celebratory display outside the Miraflores Palace, asserting once more his grip on power. He denounced what he labeled “fascist conspiracies,” attacked calls for foreign intervention, and promoted a narrative of unity and economic recovery:

“Enough of fascism, no more conspiracies… Venezuela wants work, prosperity and to move forward on the path of unity.” BSS

Maduro’s celebration capped off a series of recent electoral victories—largely uncontested—ranging from parliamentary to gubernatorial polls, which the ruling party swept in May despite an opposition boycott and historically low turnout EL PAÍS EnglishThe Times of India.

Two Narratives, One Country

This polarized moment encapsulates how Venezuela is governed today:

• For Machado and many in the opposition, the electoral process is irrevocably tainted. She continues to assert that her ally, Edmundo González, who now resides in exile, is the true winner of the 2024 presidential election and that Maduro’s rule lacks legitimacy Wikipedia+1.

• For Maduro, the past year’s outcomes—from presidential victory to parliamentary dominance—represent the strength of “Chavismo” and the regime’s durability—even when shadowed by boycott calls and global criticism EL PAÍS EnglishThe Guardian.

The Road Ahead: Between Repression and Resistance

Venezuela today stands at a tipping point. Machado’s call for clandestine organizing points to a long, underground struggle rather than a sudden uprising. Her message is clear: structural resistance—rather than overt protests—may be the opposition’s best route amid severe repression.

Maduro, meanwhile, continues to consolidate control—celebrating his perceived legitimacy and rallying his followers under the banner of sovereignty and prosperity. His regime remains fortified by institutional authority, diminished opposition, and tactical maneuvering within Venezuela’s political system.

What’s clear is this: neither narrative appears ready to yield. On one side lies a regime deeply insecure yet assertive; on the other, a fractured yet defiant opposition shaping its battle underground.