World Mayor 2023 Venezualan opposition mayors




ON THIS PAGE: Opposition mayors unteterred by government crackdown ||| Mayors who oppose President Maduro |||


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 Prominent opposition mayors undeterred
by Venezuelan government crack down
1 August 2017: Following the controversial referendum for a national constitutional assembly, Venezuela’s security forces re-arrested two of the country’s most prominent opposition leaders. Antonio Ledezma and Leopoldo Lopez, both former mayors in Caracas and World Mayor finalists, were taken from their homes to the Ramo Verde military prison.

The arrests came after some of the mayors of Venezuela’s largest cities voiced their opposition to the government of President Nicolas Maduro and its plans to re-write the country’s constitution. Earlier this year, the mayors of Iribarren and Lecheria were removed from office and convicted to prison sentences for allegedly supporting anti-government protests. Since 2013, eight mayors from the opposition party Democratic Unity Roundtable (Mesa de la Unidad Democrática) were removed from office for political reasons.

Mayors and former mayors who oppose President Nicolas Maduro

Cities
Mayors / Former mayors
Election dates
Comments
Caracas (Population: 1,944,000) Antonio Ledezma December 2008; Removed from office for political reasons in 2015 The former mayor had been under house arrest since 2015 after being imprisoned on charges of leading a coup against Venezuelan President Maduro. On 31 July 2017, he was taken from his home by security forces to the Ramo Verde military prison. Antonio Ledezma was awarded sixth place in the 2010 World Mayor Honours list.
Chacao (Population: 64,000) Leopoldo Lopez Mayor from 2000 to 2008. Not allowed to take part in 2008 elections for political reasons First elected in 2000 and re-elected in 2004, Leopoldo Lopez was barred from running in 2008. The government accused him of corruption but he was never tried nor convicted. He was arrested in 2014 after calling for peaceful protests against the government. He was tried and sentenced to 13 years in prison. On 8 July 2017, he was allowed to serve the remainder of his sentence under house arrest. On 31 July 2017, he was taken from his home by security forces to the Ramo Verde military prison. On 28 July 2017, US Vice President Mike Pence telephoned Leopoldo Lopez. He was awarded third place in the 2008 World Mayor honours list.
Maracaibo (Population: 2,658,000) Evelyn Trejo de Rosales December 2010; Still in office The Mayor of Venezuela's second largest city dismissed the 'official' results of the referendum and said less than 10 per cent of Maracaibo citizens had taken part.
Valencia (Population: 1,827,000) Miguel Cocchiola December 2013; Still in office The Mayor accused groups supporting the government of President Maduro of attacking opposition parliamentarians
Iribarren (Population: 1,027,000)) Alfredo Ramos December 2013; Removed from office in 2017 for political reasons Taken to prison on 28 July 2017 after being sentenced to 15 months in prison for supporting anti-government protests
Lecheria (Population: 61,000) Gustavo Marcano December 2013 to July 2017: Removed from office in 2017 for political reasons Sentenced to 15 months in prison for supporting anti-government protests. Removed from office in July 2017. Although appointing an interim mayor, the city council gave its full support to Gustavo Marcano.
Girardot (Population: 407,000) Pedro Bastidas December 2008; Still in office The Mayor opposes the so-called 'National constitutional Assembly”
Maturin (Population: 473,000) Warner Jiménez December 2013; Still in office The Mayor called the results of the referendum for the 'National Constitutional Assembly' manipulated and vouched the opposition would continue its struggle on the streets and on the international stage. Supports arrested opposition leader Leopoldo Lopez.
El Hatillo (Population: 54,000) David Smolansky December 2013; Still in office The Mayor accused the government of systematically persecuting opposition mayors. He detailed that since 2013, eight opposition mayors were removed from office for political reasons. He reiterated his support for his persecuted colleagues.