The leaders of the Venezuelan military reaffirmed their support for Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro amid a contested election that has split the country’s military.
The Venezuelan election results had Maduro winning, results Democratic Unitary Platform candidate Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia denounced as fraudulent, claiming victory as well. Mass protests broke out in the aftermath, leading to violence. The clashes with police have brought into question the loyalties of the military, with some videos published on social media showing military units sympathizing with or even defecting to protesters.
On Tuesday, the military high command reaffirmed its loyalty to Maduro, putting the military establishment firmly behind the incumbent president.
“We reaffirm the most absolute loyalty and unconditional support to Nicolas Maduro Moros, Constitutional President of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela. Our Commander in Chief, legitimately reelected by the People’s Power,” Defense Minister General Vladimir Padrino Lopez said in an address.
Lopez said there was a coup attempt against Maduro and that the military would move to “defeat” it.
“There is a coup in progress, so President Nicolás Maduro has stepped up to stop it again and with him the people who elected him president, all the institutions, the Bolivarian armed forces, and the democratic institutions,” he continued.
At the same time, videos emerged on social media showing soldiers interacting in a friendly manner with protesters, contrary to orders.
“If you can’t maintain order and peace, then I will have to take action myself to defend them,” a soldier told a group of protesters.
“With all due respect to the soldiers, the idea is not for the military to fight against its own people,” one of the protesters responded.
“If you respect us, we’ll respect you,” the soldier said.
| Militares venezolanos se retiran a petición popular. pic.twitter.com/TZkB6rniBw
— ʜᴇʀQʟᴇs (@herqles_es) July 29, 2024
Two separate videos appeared to show riot police mingling with protesters to cheers.
| URGENTE: En Barcelona estado Anzoátegui Venezuela, los guardias nacionales y la Policía del Estado entregan sus armas y escudos a los manifestantes y se unen a ellos.
— Eduardo Menoni (@eduardomenoni) July 30, 2024
One video showed soldiers greeting and shaking hands with protesters to cheers.
Venezuelan military are now greeting the protestors
It’s obvious whose side they are on!
FREEDOM is inevitable for the people of Venezuela pic.twitter.com/lX9xPWDpbL
— The Pleb
Reporter (@truckdriverpleb) July 30, 2024
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER
Most videos surfacing on social media show police, military, and pro-government paramilitaries fighting with protesters.
Military units have fired on & killed protestors in Venezuela
Once a dictatorship fires on its own people, the chances of protestors simply going home diminishes greatly.
Now there’s a demand for vengeance.#Venezuela #VenezuelaLibre#VezezuelaLibreCarajo pic.twitter.com/jgko1JfCHq
— Jason Jay Smart (@officejjsmart) July 30, 2024
Maduro himself blamed the United States for the unrest, saying the “system that killed John F. Kennedy and attempted to kill Donald Trump is trying to sow civil strife in Venezuela.”
MADURO: The same system that killed John F. Kennedy and attempted to kill Donald Trump is trying to sow civil strife in Venezuela
Press conference with full security council (ONGOING) pic.twitter.com/T0ou5b7sM7
— COMBATE |
(@upholdreality) July 30, 2024
Ailin Vilches contributed to this report.
2024-07-30 22:12:00, http://s.wordpress.com/mshots/v1/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.washingtonexaminer.com%2Fnews%2F3105006%2Fvenezuelan-military-throws-support-behind-maduro-loyalty-questioned%2F?w=600&h=450, The leaders of the Venezuelan military reaffirmed their support for Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro amid a contested election that has split the country’s military. The Venezuelan election results had Maduro winning, results Democratic Unitary Platform candidate Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia denounced as fraudulent, claiming victory as well. Mass protests broke out in the aftermath, leading to,
The leaders of the Venezuelan military reaffirmed their support for Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro amid a contested election that has split the country’s military.
The Venezuelan election results had Maduro winning, results Democratic Unitary Platform candidate Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia denounced as fraudulent, claiming victory as well. Mass protests broke out in the aftermath, leading to violence. The clashes with police have brought into question the loyalties of the military, with some videos published on social media showing military units sympathizing with or even defecting to protesters.
On Tuesday, the military high command reaffirmed its loyalty to Maduro, putting the military establishment firmly behind the incumbent president.
“We reaffirm the most absolute loyalty and unconditional support to Nicolas Maduro Moros, Constitutional President of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela. Our Commander in Chief, legitimately reelected by the People’s Power,” Defense Minister General Vladimir Padrino Lopez said in an address.
Lopez said there was a coup attempt against Maduro and that the military would move to “defeat” it.
“There is a coup in progress, so President Nicolás Maduro has stepped up to stop it again and with him the people who elected him president, all the institutions, the Bolivarian armed forces, and the democratic institutions,” he continued.
At the same time, videos emerged on social media showing soldiers interacting in a friendly manner with protesters, contrary to orders.
“If you can’t maintain order and peace, then I will have to take action myself to defend them,” a soldier told a group of protesters.
“With all due respect to the soldiers, the idea is not for the military to fight against its own people,” one of the protesters responded.
“If you respect us, we’ll respect you,” the soldier said.
— ʜᴇʀQʟᴇs (@herqles_es) July 29, 2024
Two separate videos appeared to show riot police mingling with protesters to cheers.
— Eduardo Menoni (@eduardomenoni) July 30, 2024
One video showed soldiers greeting and shaking hands with protesters to cheers.
Venezuelan military are now greeting the protestors
It’s obvious whose side they are on!
FREEDOM is inevitable for the people of Venezuela pic.twitter.com/lX9xPWDpbL
— The Pleb
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER
Most videos surfacing on social media show police, military, and pro-government paramilitaries fighting with protesters.
Military units have fired on & killed protestors in Venezuela
— Jason Jay Smart (@officejjsmart) July 30, 2024
Maduro himself blamed the United States for the unrest, saying the “system that killed John F. Kennedy and attempted to kill Donald Trump is trying to sow civil strife in Venezuela.”
Press conference with full security council (ONGOING) pic.twitter.com/T0ou5b7sM7
— COMBATE |
Ailin Vilches contributed to this report.
, The leaders of the Venezuelan military reaffirmed their support for Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro amid a contested election that has split the country’s military. The Venezuelan election results had Maduro winning, results Democratic Unitary Platform candidate Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia denounced as fraudulent, claiming victory as well. Mass protests broke out in the aftermath, leading to violence. The clashes with police have brought into question the loyalties of the military, with some videos published on social media showing military units sympathizing with or even defecting to protesters. Military personnel wait for their turn to vote in the presidential elections at Fort Tiuna in Caracas, Venezuela, Sunday, July 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Fernando Vergara) On Tuesday, the military high command reaffirmed its loyalty to Maduro, putting the military establishment firmly behind the incumbent president. “We reaffirm the most absolute loyalty and unconditional support to Nicolas Maduro Moros, Constitutional President of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela. Our Commander in Chief, legitimately reelected by the People’s Power,” Defense Minister General Vladimir Padrino Lopez said in an address. Lopez said there was a coup attempt against Maduro and that the military would move to “defeat” it. “There is a coup in progress, so President Nicolás Maduro has stepped up to stop it again and with him the people who elected him president, all the institutions, the Bolivarian armed forces, and the democratic institutions,” he continued. At the same time, videos emerged on social media showing soldiers interacting in a friendly manner with protesters, contrary to orders. “If you can’t maintain order and peace, then I will have to take action myself to defend them,” a soldier told a group of protesters. “With all due respect to the soldiers, the idea is not for the military to fight against its own people,” one of the protesters responded. “If you respect us, we’ll respect you,” the soldier said. | Militares venezolanos se retiran a petición popular. pic.twitter.com/TZkB6rniBw — ʜᴇʀQʟᴇs (@herqles_es) July 29, 2024 Two separate videos appeared to show riot police mingling with protesters to cheers. | URGENTE: En Barcelona estado Anzoátegui Venezuela, los guardias nacionales y la Policía del Estado entregan sus armas y escudos a los manifestantes y se unen a ellos. El estamento militar y policial está despertando y rechazando a Maduro. ¡Si esto sigue así Maduro cae! pic.twitter.com/yCgUxTYcTX — Eduardo Menoni (@eduardomenoni) July 30, 2024 A military unit has joined the protestors in Venezuela. pic.twitter.com/6TnId4BxgW — Agorist Nexus (@AgoristN) July 30, 2024 One video showed soldiers greeting and shaking hands with protesters to cheers. Venezuelan military are now greeting the protestors It’s obvious whose side they are on! FREEDOM is inevitable for the people of Venezuela pic.twitter.com/lX9xPWDpbL — The Pleb Reporter (@truckdriverpleb) July 30, 2024 CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER Most videos surfacing on social media show police, military, and pro-government paramilitaries fighting with protesters. Military units have fired on & killed protestors in Venezuela . Once a dictatorship fires on its own people, the chances of protestors simply going home diminishes greatly. Now there’s a demand for vengeance.#Venezuela #VenezuelaLibre #VezezuelaLibreCarajo pic.twitter.com/jgko1JfCHq — Jason Jay Smart (@officejjsmart) July 30, 2024 Maduro himself blamed the United States for the unrest, saying the “system that killed John F. Kennedy and attempted to kill Donald Trump is trying to sow civil strife in Venezuela.” MADURO: The same system that killed John F. Kennedy and attempted to kill Donald Trump is trying to sow civil strife in Venezuela Press conference with full security council (ONGOING) pic.twitter.com/T0ou5b7sM7 — COMBATE | (@upholdreality) July 30, 2024 Ailin Vilches contributed to this report., , , https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Venezuela-military.webp, Washington Examiner, Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/cropped-favicon-32×32.png, https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/feed/, Brady Knox,
