The Venezuelan community in Doral, Florida, lives with uncertainty about what may happen this Friday, January 10, the scheduled date for the presidential inauguration.
In the southern Florida city of Doral, uncertainty and expectation are felt among many of the Venezuelans who have fled the government of Nicolás Maduro. This Friday, January 10, could become a key date for the politics of the Latin American country with the announced inauguration of the president.
However, two figures dispute that title: Nicolás Maduro, ruler of Venezuela, and Edmundo González, opposition leader who is credited with the electoral victory.
“There is a bit of nervousness about what might happen, although I believe that Nicolás Maduro is going to take office. But what worries me is what is going to happen next and what actions the opposition is going to take,” says Oscar Tabares, a Venezuelan who has been in exile in South Florida for more than seven years.
For many, this moment represents a historical crossroads. In the streets of Doral, known as “Doralzuela”, the Venezuelan diaspora tries to keep the world's attention on a crisis that has been worsening for more than a decade, with the latent risk of perpetuating itself, as happened in Cuba.
“It is important that the world knows what is happening in my country,” says another woman, who prefers not to be identified for fear of reprisals since her family still lives in Venezuela.
The context around January 10
Nicolás Maduro claims to have won the presidential elections, a process that the international community has denounced for its lack of transparency and legitimacy. Maduro is preparing to be sworn in again, ignoring the widespread rejection from abroad considering that the elections were fraudulent. On the other hand, Edmundo González has presented the minutes that, according to him and the Venezuelan opposition, prove his victory.
“What is at stake is not only who occupies the presidency, but the future of Venezuela as a democratic nation,” says Helena Poleo, Venezuelan political analyst and journalist, in an interview with the Voice of America. “After decades of repression, political disappearances and family divisions, this should be the time to end this cycle of suffering and recover the country that once was,” he advocates.
The date of January 10, he explains, represents a “crucial challenge” for Venezuelans inside and outside the country. From Doral to Caracas, passing through cities such as Madrid, Bogotá and Lima, exile communities have organized marches to show solidarity with González and demand that the international community not abandon the Venezuelan cause.
The role of the military
At the center of this confrontation is the Venezuelan army, whose support could be decisive for any change of power, as he explains to the VOA the political analyst José Hernández, who also lives in exile in South Florida. Despite this, he emphasizes that “the senior military commanders continue to support Maduro, thanks to the privileges and benefits they have received under his government.”
“The military high command has woven a network of loyalty based on corruption and privileges. As long as there is no institutional force within the army capable of neutralizing them, any possibility of transition will be complicated,” he says, recalling that “the military who control the operational units have repressed the people for years and it does not seem that they are going to change their position easily.”
He also points out that, although some troops have voted against the Venezuelan ruler in internal processes, operational control remains in the hands of those who have interests linked to Maduro's power. “The only way to break this vicious circle would be with an internal force that challenges the corrupt high command,” insists Hernández.
Expectations in the United States
The US government has played a crucial role in the Venezuelan crisis. Joe Biden, a few days after leaving the presidency, received Edmundo González at the White House, a gesture that served to reaffirm his administration's support for the opposition leader. However, the future of US policy towards Venezuela is uncertain. Donald Trump, who will assume power again on January 20, has not made clear his intentions on how he will handle the situation.
“It is irresponsible to believe that US Marines are going to land in La Guaira to resolve the crisis. That narrative is not only unrealistic, but it diverts attention from the real tools we have, such as economic and political sanctions aimed at Maduro's inner circle. The international community must remain united and act with determination,” thinks Poleo, for his part.
The recognition of González as president-elect by the United States and other countries is a significant step, but not enough, according to José Antonio Colina, president of Venezuelans Persecuted Politically in Exile (VEPPEX).
“As long as Maduro remains in power, we must look for all possible mechanisms to remove him. We cannot depend only on sanctions, we need an international strategy that combines economic pressure with clear support for the Venezuelan people,” he defends, admitting that he has not presented himself no plan in this regard, beyond pressure through sanctions.
The role of exile oxygenates the Venezuelan cause
For Venezuelans abroad, especially in cities like Doral, taking to the streets and organizing demonstrations is not only an act of solidarity, but a crucial strategy to keep the issue on the international agenda. After more than two decades of crisis, the greatest fear is that the situation in Venezuela will fall into oblivion, as has happened in the past in other countries, such as Cuba.
“Going out into the streets is a way of saying: we are present and we are not going to stop fighting,” says Poleo. “It is a reminder to local and international governments that we continue to face a dictatorial, murderous and drug-trafficking regime. We cannot allow them to forget our fight,” he says.
From a personal and emotional point of view, these marches also represent a link with a “lost homeland.” “None of us left Venezuela by choice. We were all forced to leave our home, and these demonstrations allow us to keep the connection with our country alive while we fight to recover it,” Poleo emphasizes.
“We can't afford to give up,” says Colina. “If we stop fighting, this crisis will perpetuate as has happened in other countries. It is now or never,” he concludes.