Venezuelan leader marks Independence Day with message of ‘no social unrest’

Venezuela marked its 215th Independence Day on Sunday as citizens continued to grapple with grief following a pair of deadly earthquakes on June 24. Interim President Delcy Rodriguez sought to project strength during a military service, stating: "There will be no social unrest here. What we have here is deep social solidarity."

However, Rodriguez's government has faced backlash since the twin earthquakes struck with magnitudes of 7.2 and 7.5. On Sunday, Venezuela's Ministry of Communication and Information announced it had recorded 3,342 deaths as a result of the earthquakes, with more expected. Thousands of people remain missing. Additionally, 16,470 people are injured, and 17,345 have been left homeless.

The powerful seismic activity leveled buildings along Venezuela's northern coastline, damaging regions like La Guaira and the Caracas metropolitan area. Critics have accused the United Socialist Party of Venezuela, which has led the country since 2007, of chronic mismanagement and corruption, leaving Venezuela incapable of handling a crisis of this scale. The June 24 earthquakes are the deadliest in a century and the most catastrophic natural disaster since the 1999 flash floods.

After the earthquakes, residents reported that government aid was slow to reach the most affected areas, and some accused the government of impeding foreign assistance. In her Sunday remarks, Rodriguez accused critics of seeking to stir "hatred" against the state. "Attempts are being made today to attack Venezuelan institutions," she said. "There can be no room for any kind of conspiracy, internal or external."

The earthquakes are the first major disaster for the Rodriguez government. Rodriguez was sworn in as acting president in January after serving as vice president under then-President Nicolas Maduro. On January 3, the United States launched a military operation to abduct and imprison Maduro on drug- and weapons-related charges. He is currently facing trial in New York.

Since taking power, Rodriguez has sought to work within the demands of US President Donald Trump. Her government has overseen reforms, such as in the nationalized mining and fuel industries, allowing more foreign investment. The Trump administration has stood by Rodriguez even amid criticism following the earthquakes. Media reports have emerged that the US has repeatedly rejected requests from Venezuela's main opposition leader, Maria Corina Machado, to help her return to the country.

Machado had been living in hiding under Maduro for fear of arrest. In December, shortly before Maduro's abduction, she secretly left Venezuela to collect a Nobel Peace Prize for promoting democracy. However, Machado has yet to return, though she has expressed a desire to be in the country to help with disaster relief. Her political coalition, Vente Venezuela, has been organizing its own volunteer effort to collect donations and distribute supplies.

In a message to mark Venezuela's Independence Day, Machado drew a parallel between the US and her country. "Yesterday, the people of the United States celebrated the 250th anniversary of their Declaration of Independence. Mere hours separate these commemorations, reflecting far more than a coincidence of history," she wrote. "They remind us that our nations are bound by the same republican ideals and by a shared commitment to the defense of the free world."

In January, Machado presented Trump with her Nobel Peace Prize medal, widely seen as an attempt to curry favor. She has repeatedly pushed for new elections in Venezuela, claiming her party has a mandate to lead since the 2024 presidential race. That election saw Maduro claim a third term despite published vote tallies indicating he lost to opposition candidate Edmundo Gonzalez, an ally of Machado.