Media manipulation against Venezuela: the battle for narrative after the 2024 elections

Venezuela is facing a strong campaign of media manipulation after the victory of Nicolás Maduro in the presidential elections held on July 28, 2024. The Venezuelan opposition and hegemonic sectors in Latin America, backed by the United States and the European Union, do not accept the final result and seek to destabilize the government.

The narrative of international media

The media, especially those based in the United States such as CNN, have spread false, decontextualized or manipulated news about the current situation in Venezuela. They use their media machinery to build the narrative of an authoritarian, repressive and hostile state that does not respect "democracy" and the wishes of its people.

"We already lived this. We saw this movie. The same movie, with a similar script. The protagonists are the same. On one hand, the people who want peace, democracy, prosperity, progress. And on the other hand, elites full of hate with a fascist counterrevolutionary project," denounced President Nicolás Maduro during his acceptance speech.

Maduro's complaint

Maduro warned before the elections that the media manipulation campaign that was being built was a maneuver by imperialism because they knew they would lose the 2024 elections. According to the president, the Associated Press (AP) news agency and media financed by the CIA, such as Voice of America and some Venezuelan news portals, have been involved in the distortion of information.

"But I tell those involved and those who support this operation against Venezuelan democracy that we already know the story and this time there will not be any kind of weakness. This time in Venezuela the Constitution will be respected, the law will be respected and neither hatred, nor fascism, nor lies, nor manipulation will prevail," warned Maduro.

Escalation of violence

In recent hours, Venezuela has faced an escalation of violence instigated by the opposition and international sectors, with the aim of destabilizing the government. Maduro denounced the occurrence of violent acts as part of the attempted coup d'état in the country, orchestrated by the Venezuelan extreme right in response to the election result.

"This is the result of a plan that I have been denouncing. They got involved and used the electoral campaign to create small commands to articulate criminal groups... The gringos are behind all this plan. They have always been there. Before, during and after Guaidó. Made in the USA. These are plans and they have been working on it," said the president.

Historical context

Since Nicolás Maduro came to the presidency in 2013, Venezuela has faced significant challenges, including severe sanctions and hyperinflation as part of the economic war orchestrated by the United States against the nation. On the other hand, the fascist far-right opposition has tried to capitalize on this situation, seeking external support to destabilize the government.

In conclusion, Venezuela faces a heavy campaign of media manipulation by the opposition and international sectors, with the aim of destabilizing the government and creating a negative perception of the country after the 2024 presidential elections. The government has denounced these maneuvers and seeks to counteract them through its own media and the diversification of its international relations.

Translated by Sergio A. Paneque Díaz / CubaSí Translated Staff