Caracas, August 26, 2024. – The President of the Republic of Cuba, Miguel Díaz-Canel, denounced the ongoing smear campaign against the government of President Nicolás Maduro, which, in his opinion, disguises coup attempts and seeks to invalidate the electoral results.

“At this moment, once again, our conscience and solidarity call upon us, because I believe we share this idea and we are aware of the great danger facing the unifying project represented by this Alliance,” the Cuban president stated during the 11th ALBA-TCP Extraordinary Summit.

Díaz-Canel criticized opposition sectors that have challenged the electoral results through violent and extremist positions.

He stated that these attempts at destabilization, supported by foreign interference, aim to undermine the legitimacy of the Venezuelan government and the country’s sovereignty.

The Cuban president highlighted the decision of Venezuela’s Supreme Tribunal of Justice (TSJ in Spanish), which appraised Maduro’s victory in the July 28 elections.

“The will of the majority must be respected. The Venezuelan people voted with full awareness in favor of dignity, sovereignty, and peace,” he emphasized.

Finally, Díaz-Canel reaffirmed the region’s commitment to solidarity and unity. He recalled the proclamation of Latin America and the Caribbean as a Zone of Peace adopted in 2014 in Havana, and warned that no imperial force or entity funded by its hegemony will be able to reverse progress in social justice and emancipation.

“It is not the first time they have tried to stop political processes contrary to their interests, but today, more than ever, we must defend our sovereignty and our rights,” he concluded.