Changes

Many experts and technicians fled the country. During electrical blackouts in 2019, which the government was incapable of restoring due to a lack of skilled personnel, [[Social Justice Warrior]]s began looting shops, stores, and malls. Despite Venezuela's guarantee of [[healthcare]] as a right, people contracted [[E. coli]] bacteria from contaminated water with no technicians to treat the water and a lack of medical personnel to treat the victims.

Many experts and technicians fled the country. During electrical blackouts in 2019, which the government was incapable of restoring due to a lack of skilled personnel, [[Social Justice Warrior]]s began looting shops, stores, and malls. Despite Venezuela's guarantee of [[healthcare]] as a right, people contracted [[E. coli]] bacteria from contaminated water with no technicians to treat the water and a lack of medical personnel to treat the victims.

 

The situation in Venezuela demonstrated the importance of an armed citizenry – its population was disarmed and thus unable to free itself from Maduro's grip.<ref>Hawkins, Awr (April 30, 2019). [https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2019/04/30/msnbc-venezuela-coverage-shows-why-u-s-founders-wanted-armed-citizenry/ MSNBC Venezuela Coverage Shows Why U.S. Founders Wanted Armed Citizenry]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved May 1, 2019.</ref><ref>Byas, Steve (May 1, 2019). [https://www.thenewamerican.com/usnews/item/32167-msnbc-reporter-s-remarks-illustrate-need-for-right-to-keep-and-bear-arms MSNBC Reporter’s Remarks Illustrate Need for Right to Keep and Bear Arms]. ''The New American''. Retrieved May 1, 2019.</ref> Maduro used violent means to keep control of Venezuela.<ref>Adelmann, Bob (July 9, 2019). [https://www.thenewamerican.com/world-news/south-america/item/32799-venezuelas-maduro-employing-death-squads-torture-to-retain-control Venezuela’s Maduro Employing Death Squads, Torture to Retain Control]. ''The New American''. Retrieved July 9, 2019.</ref> According to the Venezuelan Prison Observatory in 2019, over 7,000 Venezuelans died in the country's prisons since 1999.<ref>Kew, Ben (July 26, 2019). [https://www.breitbart.com/national-security/2019/07/26/ngo-7000-venezuelans-died-prison-under-socialist-regime/ NGO: Over 7,000 Venezuelans Have Died in Prison Under Socialist Regime]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved July 26, 2019.</ref>

The situation in Venezuela demonstrated the importance of an armed citizenry – its population was disarmed and thus unable to free itself from Maduro's grip.<ref>Hawkins, Awr (April 30, 2019). [https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2019/04/30/msnbc-venezuela-coverage-shows-why-u-s-founders-wanted-armed-citizenry/ MSNBC Venezuela Coverage Shows Why U.S. Founders Wanted Armed Citizenry]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved May 1, 2019.</ref><ref>Byas, Steve (May 1, 2019). [https://www.thenewamerican.com/usnews/item/32167-msnbc-reporter-s-remarks-illustrate-need-for-right-to-keep-and-bear-arms MSNBC Reporter’s Remarks Illustrate Need for Right to Keep and Bear Arms]. ''The New American''. Retrieved May 1, 2019.</ref> Maduro used violent means to keep control of Venezuela.<ref>Adelmann, Bob (July 9, 2019). [https://www.thenewamerican.com/world-news/south-america/item/32799-venezuelas-maduro-employing-death-squads-torture-to-retain-control Venezuela’s Maduro Employing Death Squads, Torture to Retain Control]. ''The New American''. Retrieved July 9, 2019.</ref> According to the Venezuelan Prison Observatory in 2019, over 7,000 Venezuelans died in the country's prisons since 1999.<ref>Kew, Ben (July 26, 2019). [https://www.breitbart.com/national-security/2019/07/26/ngo-7000-venezuelans-died-prison-under-socialist-regime/ NGO: Over 7,000 Venezuelans Have Died in Prison Under Socialist Regime]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved July 26, 2019.</ref>

*[https://www.reuters.com/article/us-venezuela-politics-usa/amid-colombia-rebel-rearmament-u-s-sees-support-from-maduro-official-idUSKCN1VL0FZ Amid Colombia rebel rearmament, U.S. sees support from Maduro: official]. ''Reuters''. August 31, 2019. Retrieved August 31, 2019.</ref>

*[https://www.reuters.com/article/us-venezuela-politics-usa/amid-colombia-rebel-rearmament-u-s-sees-support-from-maduro-official-idUSKCN1VL0FZ Amid Colombia rebel rearmament, U.S. sees support from Maduro: official]. ''Reuters''. August 31, 2019. Retrieved August 31, 2019.</ref>

In July 2023, Machado was banned from holding public office for 15 years.<ref>{{Cite web  |author=Alexander Busch |url=https://www.nzz.ch/international/venezuela-abkommen-zwischen-regierung-und-opposition-fuer-wahlen-ld.1761446 |title=Government and opposition in Venezuela agree on presidential elections - but clean elections are hardly possible |werk=nzz. ch |hrsg=Neue Zürcher Zeitung |date=2023-10-19 |access-date=2023-10-21}}</ref> After her replacement candidate [[Corina Yoris]] was also denied registration to run, [[Edmundo González]] now stands as the joint candidate of the opposition alliance [[Mesa de la Unidad Democrática]], who is also supported by Machado. <ref name="El País González">{{Cite web  |author=Florantonia Singer |url=https://elpais.com/america/2024-04-20/edmundo-gonzalez-urrutia-el-candidato-que-no-queria-serlo.html |title=Edmundo González Urrutia, el candidato que no quería serlo |werk=El País |date=2024-04-20 |language=es |access-date=2024-04-25}}</ref> If she had been able to take part in the elections under regular conditions, she would have been certain to win according to various polls. <ref>{{Cite web  |author=Katharina Wegner |url=https://www.ipg-journal.de/regionen/lateinamerika/artikel/zwei-gegen-maduro-7546/ |title=Two against Maduro |work=IPG-Journal |date=2024-06-04 |access-date=2024-06-10}}</ref>

In July 2023, Machado was banned from holding public office for 15 years.<ref>{{Cite web  |author=Alexander Busch |url=https://www.nzz.ch/international/venezuela-abkommen-zwischen-regierung-und-opposition-fuer-wahlen-ld.1761446 |title=Government and opposition in Venezuela agree on presidential elections - but clean elections are hardly possible |werk=nzz. ch |hrsg=Neue Zürcher Zeitung |date=2023-10-19 |access-date=2023-10-21}}</ref> After her replacement candidate [[Corina Yoris]] was also denied registration to run, [[Edmundo González]] now stands as the joint candidate of the opposition alliance [[Mesa de la Unidad Democrática]], who is also supported by Machado. <ref name="El País González">{{Cite web  |author=Florantonia Singer |url=https://elpais.com/america/2024-04-20/edmundo-gonzalez-urrutia-el-candidato-que-no-queria-serlo.html |title=Edmundo González Urrutia, el candidato que no quería serlo |werk=El País |date=2024-04-20 |language=es |access-date=2024-04-25}}</ref> If she had been able to take part in the elections under regular conditions, she would have been certain to win according to various polls. <ref>{{Cite web  |author=Katharina Wegner |url=https://www.ipg-journal.de/regionen/lateinamerika/artikel/zwei-gegen-maduro-7546/ |title=Two against Maduro |work=IPG-Journal |date=2024-06-04 |access-date=2024-06-10}}</ref>

Machado supports Edmundo González candidacy for President in 2024 after she was banned.

Machado supports Edmundo González candidacy for President in 2024 after she was banned.

==Famous Venezuelans==

==Famous Venezuelans==