In Venezuela, during an election year, journalists have faced persecution patterns employed by Nicolás Maduro's government, with 15 journalists detained and 204 rights violations reported. Edgar Cárdenas from the National College of Journalists highlights these issues, while Bárbara Canino Peña calls for the release of her mother, journalist Deisy Peña. Pedro Pablo Peñaloza describes the authoritarian context for journalists, marked by censorship and self-censorship. In contrast, Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello claims unprecedented freedom of expression in the country.

Emily Galaviz, a 17-year-old singer, is emerging as a prominent ambassador of Venezuelan joropo music internationally. Despite starting her musical journey at a young age, she believes that Venezuelan folk music has not gained the recognition it deserves. Musicologist Miguel Delgado Estévez attributes the current popularity of joropo to media exposure and the efforts of young artists like Emily. Her rendition of 'Guayabo zarandiao' is gaining traction on platforms like TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, and Spotify, and has even been featured at the Tomorrowland music festival.

The Venezuelan government, through Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello, announced the capture of a group of alleged mercenaries linked to Spain and the United States, implicating organizations like the CNI, CIA, and DEA. The announcement lacked evidence, leading to skepticism. Meanwhile, families of political prisoners, detained after the July 28 elections, protested for their release, highlighting poor incarceration conditions.

Nicolás Maduro announced his intention to be sworn in as re-elected president of Venezuela on January 10, 2025, despite not providing evidence of his electoral victory. Political analyst Héctor Moreno and constitutional lawyer Nelson Chitty la Roche expressed concerns over the transparency of the election process. The Supreme Court of Justice recently rejected requests to review the election results, which have been deemed fraudulent by the opposition coalition, Plataforma Unitaria Democrática.

Nicolas Maduro announced changes in Venezuela's military leadership while retaining Vladimir Padrino as Defense Minister, emphasizing the importance of a strong military defense. He criticized opposition leader María Corina Machado, attributing her statements to a lack of military honor. Political analyst Walter Molina suggests these changes reflect Maduro's need to maintain power amid internal tensions and a lack of electoral transparency. The article highlights the ongoing political dynamics and challenges within Venezuela.

The Venezuelan government, facing a significant teacher shortage exacerbated by low salaries and migration, has requested retired teachers to return to classrooms. Despite President Nicolás Maduro's claims of normalcy in the new school year, the education sector is in crisis, with an estimated 100,000 teachers having left the country. The Federation of Venezuelan Teachers and educators like Leila Escobar criticize the government's approach, highlighting inadequate salaries and poor infrastructure as key issues. The average monthly salary for teachers is insufficient to meet basic needs, further complicating efforts to retain educators.

The United Nations Human Rights Council has extended its independent observation mission on Venezuela for two more years, with 23 votes in favor, six against, and 18 abstentions. The mission, established in 2019, investigates alleged human rights violations in Venezuela since 2014. U.S. representative Michelle Taylor supported the extension, citing the deteriorating situation in Venezuela. In contrast, Cuban representative Juan Quintanilla criticized the mission as biased and ineffective. Alí Daniels from the NGO Acceso a la Justicia emphasized the mission's importance in documenting potential crimes against humanity. The resolution urges Venezuela to cease political repression and release arbitrarily detained individuals, while encouraging cooperation with the mission and the UN Office for Human Rights, which was expelled from Venezuela in February.

Families of political prisoners in Venezuela demand their release, citing cruel treatment and lack of evidence against their detained relatives. The government, led by Nicolás Maduro, calls for political dialogue, which the opposition rejects, urging a democratic transition. The situation highlights ongoing political tensions and human rights concerns in the country.

The article reports on the detention of Venezuelan opposition figures, including Mayor Rafael Ramírez, by the Servicio Bolivariano de inteligencia. The opposition party Primero Justicia condemned the detentions, highlighting a pattern of repression following recent elections. Lawyer Joel García criticized the lack of due process, while Jennie Lincoln from the Carter Center presented evidence at the OAS in Washington D.C. supporting the opposition's election victory claims. Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello accused the opposition of conspiracy, asserting the government's electoral success.

Venezuelan opposition groups gathered in Caracas, aiming to replicate the protest in 500 cities worldwide, demanding the official publication of election process records and the release of political prisoners, two months ahead of the controversial presidential elections.