Daniel Lozano Madrid
Madrid
Updated Monday, March 25, 2024-12:00
Venezuela Chavismo only accepts a "potable" candidate from the real opposition to Maduro's measure
"Very few people have the
guarámo
(courage) and bravery. We are moved and grateful for what you are doing," Aaron Díaz recited very seriously before
Lorena Lima
, sitting among Venezuelan flags, clothing for the cold and the water that accompanies her. The young woman, 28 years old,
has been on hunger strike
since Friday to demand the opening of the electoral registry abroad for the presidential elections in July.
In the schedule of the National Electoral Council (CNE), the 18th appears as the first day for the large electoral registry, which would close in mid-April. But nothing is known until today in what is already
another of the antidemocratic traps
of the Bolivarian revolution to protect a leader without social support.
Lorena listens excitedly, she even turns red. Her countryman is part of the
raiders
group , which is present in the strategic place chosen by the young woman for her protest: the Brotherhood of Carmen de Nuestra Señora de Chamberí,
50 meters from the Venezuelan Consulate
, next to the Church Metro. She is also visited from time to time by the National Police patrols, who show her sympathy and show her solidarity. "What's wrong, Lorena. How are you? A lot of people have joined you!" asks the Spanish agent, surprised by the crowd on Palm Sunday.
In recent days, word has spread about Lorena's feat, despite the fact that hunger strikes have been a taboo subject in Venezuela since farmer Franklin Brito lost his life due to starvation in 2010. His protests against the invasion of his land by revolutionary radicals did not move
Hugo Chávez
and his case went on to add to the drama of the opposition in Venezuela.
The conscience of Lorena, who is an insurance agent in Spain, was unleashed last week. You have to push, she told herself.
Neither in Madrid nor in the rest of the world has registration been opened so far
, despite the fact that the calculations of the electoral organization Súmate contemplate that of the 8.5 million emigrants spread around the world, at least 5.6 are possible voters . And many of them are young, since the electoral registry or census has remained closed since the 2018 presidential elections, when it was opened with enormous limitations.
The revolution has never wanted to facilitate the vote of its emigrants
, knowing that the vast majority dreams of a free country that makes their return possible.
"I am hopeful that we will unite, that a domino effect will emerge so that we will peacefully protest everywhere and they will be forced to open the registry. I am also
looking for the Government of Spain to speak out about the violations of the Barbados Agreement
( between government and opposition for free and fair elections)," repeats Lorena, a student leader in Venezuela who was part of the youth organization of Voluntad Popular, the party of former political prisoner Leopoldo López.
A desire also weighs deep within her: that the country that has welcomed her so well knows a little more about the Venezuelan reality. "I immediately felt that Madrid was like my home, but I can't stop thinking about my homeland. I do believe that the Spanish Government's position is very lukewarm for what is happening in my country," she says calmly, the same one that leads her. to proclaim to those who allow themselves to be seduced by Chavista propaganda:
"Our culture is peaceful, we believe in democracy and we defend our rights."
From a social democratic family, Lorena fought hard for the democratic cause at the University where she studied agro-industrial engineering, which cost her the persecution of Chavismo. Between that prison and the ravenous crisis that already surrounded her, she emigrated first to the United States and then to Spain.
Lorena is not alone.
Santiago Viana
, a young man from Caracas who also escaped from his country after several days in a Bolivarian cell,
has remained at the foot of the banner "Hunger strike for our right to vote" since Saturday .
"Something suddenly woke up, not only a common cause, but also friendship.
I felt the duty and responsibility to accompany Lorena
, to come and also to spend the night," the young man explains to EL MUNDO.
Although Lorena's sudden announcement caused hilarity among her friends, they don't fail either, they have even stayed over some of the nights.
Eriana Zuleta and Andrea Velásquez
accompany Lorena's struggle, which is the same as theirs, amid the admiration of those who arrive and leave flowers, pillows, water, a tent for the rain and clothes for the cold. The
raiders
even brought coconut water
, as if they were on a beach in La Guaira.
And
José Manuel Hernández
, who also spent time in Chavista prisons, cares for his friend and those who arrive, activists like
Michelle Simón or Manuel Rodríguez
, Venezuelan journalists like
David Placer
or former MEP
Beatriz Becerra
. The Lorraine domino effect has already begun.