(Dated: 6 January 2026)
As adopted by the Executive Committee of the International Alliance of Libertarian Parties on 6 January 2026
The dictatorship of Nicolàs Maduro has fallen.
His authoritarian regime, which relied for years on the suffering of millions of Venezuelans, has collapsed, to the joy of all those in the Bolivarian Republic who have spent decades fighting for freedom.
We cannot but share in the joy that many now have, not only within Venezuela but throughout the large Venezuelan community abroad, surrounding the fall of Maduro. By all historical measurements, this day is a day to celebrate.
At the same time, we cannot ignore the reality that Venezuela now faces: The Chavista system remains intact and retains its strength, with Delcy Rodriguez now poised to perpetuate Maduro’s tyranny.
It has always been the position of the International Alliance of Libertarian Parties that military operations to overthrow regimes cannot be justified. We can celebrate the downfall of one global enemy of liberty and we also must realize that regime change via foreign military intervention has historically led to destabilization of entire regions, while sending signals to hostile empires that a world order based on international law can be tossed in favor of blood and fire.
Many questions remain today. But there are a few realities that must be recognized.
- We welcome the fall of Nicolàs Maduro. A defeat of totalitarianism in South America, alongside the weakening of Russian and Chinese interests on the continent, is a historical victory for the millions who have suffered under the successive regimes of Hugo Chavez and Nicolas Maduro.
- We continue to recognize Edmundo Gonzales as the sole legitimate President of Venezuela, following his victory in the 2024 presidential election.
- We reject wholeheartedly claims by Delcy Rodriguez, who served as de facto Vice-President of the Maduro administration, of acting in any leadership capacity and call on all democratic partners to reject her as a continuation of the Chavista regime.
- We firmly believe that Venezuelan liberation must include free and fair elections, organized by the legitimate authorities of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, and that any decision concerning the future of Venezuela is a sovereign decision of the Venezuelan people and cannot be imposed by any foreign power.
The events in Venezuela are the culmination of decades of interventionism from various other countries. We reiterate our firm belief that the only path toward freedom for Latin America resides in the freedom of its nations to develop without foreign intervention and without the geopolitical calculations of large states, but rather with free trade, freedom of movement, respect for international law, and peace.