A recent poll conducted by Meganálisis, a Venezuelan firm, has revealed that a staggering 43.2 percent of the country’s population, equivalent to over 10 million people, are contemplating leaving Venezuela in the wake of the disputed presidential election held on July 28. The poll’s findings come as the country grapples with a deepening political crisis, sparked by the National Electoral Council’s (CNE) claim that socialist dictator Nicolás Maduro won the election.
The CNE, which is controlled by the Maduro regime, has refused to release voter data that could substantiate its claim that Maduro secured 51 percent of the votes. The Venezuelan opposition has vehemently disputed the results, accusing Maduro of stealing the election. The opposition has also published thousands of vote tallies obtained on election day, which it claims prove that its candidate, Edmundo González, was the actual winner.
The situation has escalated into nationwide protests, which the Maduro regime has responded to with brutal force, resulting in at least 24 deaths and the arbitrary detention of over 2,400 individuals. The regime has also implemented a new wave of internet censorship and established “reeducation” camps for detained dissidents.
The Meganálisis poll, conducted between August 8-11, found that an overwhelming 93.4 percent of respondents believe that Edmundo González was the rightful winner of the election. Furthermore, 92.7 percent expressed a lack of trust in the Venezuelan electoral authorities and the results announced by CNE head Elvis Amoroso.
The poll’s respondents reported feeling a sense of “impotence, indignation, anxiety, and annoyance” in the aftermath of the election. The desire to leave the country is particularly pronounced, with 43.2 percent of respondents considering emigration. This figure represents approximately 10.4 million Venezuelans, of which 6.9 million are part of the country’s electorate.
A breakdown of the respondents’ plans to leave the country reveals that 39.8 percent are unsure when they will depart, while 22.3 percent plan to leave at some point in 2025. Others intend to leave after December (15.6 percent), in a few months (5.8 percent), or immediately (1.6 percent).
The collapse of socialism in Venezuela, led by the Maduro regime, has prompted a massive migrant crisis in the Western Hemisphere over the past decade. Nearly 8 million Venezuelans have fled their country since 2014. Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado has warned that Maduro’s continued attempts to cling to power will lead to another wave of migration, potentially involving 3-5 million Venezuelans.
The majority of Venezuelan migrants currently reside in Colombia, Peru, the United States, Brazil, Spain, Chile, Ecuador, and Argentina. In anticipation of a potential surge in migrants, the governments of Colombia and Peru have announced plans to reinforce their borders. Chile, which has denounced Maduro’s fraudulent attempts to stay in power, has proposed the establishment of migrant “quotas” that each country is willing to accept.
