In the second issue of The Local Dispatch, we feature the tragedy of pensioners, “WhatsApp crimes” and Sucre’s cocoa problem
This service is enabling five million Venezuelans to buy now and pay later, fueling consumption across the country
The closing of air routes, the fear of political retaliations and a deep fall of consumer spending in August put a halt, maybe temporary, to the country’s comeback to international live music
A document signed by Edmundo González, recognizing the TSJ’s ruling on the elections, surfaced today. The opposition leader says he was coerced and blackmailed to sign it. The Rodríguez siblings, meanwhile, share images of them having Edmundo sign it inside the Spanish Embassy in Caracas.
Below you’ll find Edmundo González’s full statement on the document that the government apparently made him sign before allowing him safe-passage to Spain—the document is supposed to be a commitment by González Urrutia saying that while he didn’t agree with the Supreme Tribunal’s decision (certifying Maduro’s win) he would abide by the ruling. Here’s the statement:
“I am writing to you to inform you of the whole truth about what happened with my departure from Venezuela.
The regime wants all Venezuelans to lose hope. The whole world knows that they always resort to foul play, blackmail and manipulation.
While at the residence of the Ambassador of Spain, the president of the National Assembly, Jorge Rodríguez and the vice president of the Republic Delcy Rodríguez presented themselves with a document that I would have to countersign to allow my departure from the country. In other words, I either signed or faced the consequences.
There were very tense hours of coercion, blackmail and pressure. In those moments I considered that I could be more useful, free than locked up and unable to fulfill the tasks entrusted to me by the sovereign.
A document produced under coercion is absolutely null and void, due to a serious defect in consent.
As President-Elect of millions and millions of Venezuelans who voted for change, democracy and peace, they are not going to silence me.
I will never betray them. This is known to each and every one of the people I have spoken to to date.
The International Community continues to increase its support for the sovereign will of the Venezuelan people.
What they should be disclosing are the scrutiny records. The truth is what it is and it is in the minutes that you try to hide.
They are not going to silence a country that has already spoken. Millions of Venezuelans have the will for change and I am going to fulfill that mandate.”
Many immigrants and expats from Latin America who are U.S. citizens cease to vote Democrat or register as Independent once they associate progressives with autocrats back home
The difference between the official and parallel exchange rates for dollars and bolivars are increasing again. Why is this happening? How will it impact Venezuela?
Efecto Eco brings together a group of artists and activists to tell the stories of repression taking place in Venezuela in the context of post electoral protests
Indifference, commiseration and hate based on fake news: the specter of attitudes toward our story has changed in the U.S., not always for the better
Signs of the extensive election fraud in Venezuela—and the regime's futile attempts to cover it up—have continued to emerge since Election Day
