Argentinian President Javier Milei has positioned himself as a significant supporter of the Venezuelan anti-government protests amid escalating international calls to recognize the recent presidential election results in favor of the opposition.
Global leaders, including those from the U.S., have questioned Nicolas Maduro’s assertion of victory in the election, while protests erupt in clashes with police throughout the beleaguered South American nation.
“He has been incredibly supportive, effectively acting as a unifying voice in South America, advocating alongside the left and the opposition for the recognition of Edmundo as president,” stated Daniel Acosta Rivas, an OSINT Analyst, to Fox News Digital.
According to Rivas, Milei’s vocal endorsement has resonated within Venezuela and particularly within the diaspora.
Milei was one of the first global leaders to voice his concerns after the Maduro-affiliated National Electoral Council declared the president as the winner by a disputed margin of 51%, as opposed to 44% for the opposition. Notably, illegal pre-election polls indicated that opposition candidate Edmundo Gonzalez garnered twice the support compared to Maduro.
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Following the election, the U.S. acknowledged Gonzalez as the legitimate winner, claiming a review of tally sheets corroborated this. Nonetheless, Milei promptly condemned the election results as a “fraud orchestrated by the dictator Nicolás Maduro.”
“He might think he has won a battle,” Milei remarked. “However, what matters most is that the Venezuelan lions have woken up, and sooner or later, socialism will be vanquished.”
Argentina’s President Javier Milei addresses the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) annual meeting in National Harbor, Maryland, on Feb. 24, 2024. (REUTERS/Elizabeth Frantz)
Milei emphasized that Argentina “will not recognize another fraud” and urged Venezuela’s military to “protect democracy and the will of the people this time around.” He cited “evidence” indicating a “decisive victory for the opposition.”
In the midst of Maduro’s attempts to assert his election victory, violent police crackdowns met with protesters in the streets, drawing considerable international backlash. Milei continued to champion the protesters and their struggle against Maduro.
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In a recent attack on Milei, Maduro disparaged the Argentinian leader, referring to him as possessing a “monstrous face” and calling him “ugly and foolish.” He even branded Milei a “Nazi, fascist individual,” questioning how anyone could take such a person seriously, as reported by the Buenos Aires Herald. Maduro derogatorily labeled Milei a “cowardly insect” and “traitor to the homeland.”
Demonstrators clash with police near an armored vehicle during protests against Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro in Caracas on July 29, 2024, the day after the Venezuelan presidential election. Protests erupted in Caracas in response to Maduro’s claimed re-election victory, which faces opposition and international questioning, as noted by AFP journalists. (Federico Parra/AFP via Getty Images)
“These individuals have rejected extreme capitalism and fascism,” Maduro proclaimed during a rally outside his party headquarters. “From Caracas, Venezuela has declared its opposition to the Nazi fascist Milei. We are a nation of warriors.”
However, Maduro’s retorts seemed to bolster the resolve of the protesters and elevate Milei’s standing among the opposition. Rivas observed that Maduro frequently mentions figures like Milei and Elon Musk—both critical of the election outcome—attempting to divert attention away from the election, though these comments have only served to spotlight him and his actions in a region increasingly disillusioned with politics as usual.
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“He has invigorated a right-wing or classical liberal movement across Latin America,” Rivas noted. “People are inspired by his messages and rise to leadership … having been largely unknown outside libertarian circles before his election campaign, he was often disregarded by the opposition during the Fernandez-Kirchner era. And now look at him.”
Venezuelan activists in exile spoke highly of Milei and his potential influence on their homeland as they strive for an end to the Maduro-Chavez regime and envision a new political landscape that could align with Milei’s principles. Since taking office this year, economist Milei has managed to stabilize Argentina’s rampant inflation, achieve a balanced budget, and reduce the size of government.
Opponents of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro’s government protest in Caracas on July 29, 2024, a day after the Venezuelan presidential election. Protests emerged in areas of Caracas following Maduro’s claimed victory, which faces opposition and international scrutiny, as noted by AFP journalists. (Raul Arboleda/AFP via Getty Images)
“While young people may lean towards socialist ideologies, those who have experienced these political systems often become their staunchest opponents,” remarked Esteban Hernández, a Venezuelan journalist in exile in Miami, in comments to Fox News Digital.
“The youth of Venezuela, unlike in other nations, does not favor these ideologies,” he added. “In fact, we’ve witnessed Venezuelans warning locals in countries like the U.S. and Argentina against voting for socialist candidates.”
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“During the recent electoral cycle in Argentina, for example, many Venezuelans proactively campaigned against Sergio Massa and even volunteered to help Javier Milei win,” Hernández noted.
Franklin Camargo, a Venezuelan activist in exile, commended Milei as “the foremost right-wing leader of our generation,” asserting that he counters socialist ideology with well-reasoned philosophical and moral arguments while advocating for individualism, capitalism, and freedom.
