Venezuelan officials have issued an apology after racist chants were heard during a political event in Madrid featuring opposition leader María Corina Machado. The incident occurred at a gathering in the city’s Sol district, where supporters of Machado were heard shouting slogans directed at Venezuelan officials, including Vice President Delcy Rodríguez.
The Venezuelan Embassy in Spain acknowledged the incident, stating that the chants — which included the phrase “¡Fuera la mona!” — were unacceptable and did not reflect the values of the Venezuelan people. Embassy representatives said they regretted the offense caused and condemned any form of racial discrimination.
The chants drew criticism from several Spanish political groups, including Más Madrid and Podemos, who called on regional President Isabel Díaz Ayuso to publicly denounce the remarks. Leaders from both parties said such rhetoric has no place in democratic discourse and urged authorities to take a firm stand against hate speech, regardless of political context.
Machado herself did not engage with the chants during her appearance, according to reports from attendees. Observers noted that she maintained her focus on delivering her message about Venezuela’s political crisis, avoiding any direct response to the surrounding protests.
The event, which took place on April 5, 2024, highlighted ongoing tensions between Venezuela’s government and its opposition, particularly among the diaspora community in Europe. While Machado continues to rally international support for democratic restoration in Venezuela, incidents like this underscore the sensitivity of political symbolism and rhetoric in cross-border activism.
No arrests were reported in connection with the chants, and local authorities have not opened an investigation into the matter as of this writing.
