Venezuelan politician Enrique Márquez, who ran for the presidential elections of Venezuela of 2024 which saw Nicola Maduro returned to power, was arbitrarily detained by state forces on January 7th. The former candidate was endorsed in the presidential elections by a coalition including the Communist Party of Venezuela, which, like Márquez, does not accept the results of the election and has called for publication of the results.

The detention of Márquez followed the arrest of six opposition politicians, in addition to the disappearance of several activists in Caracas.

Márquez is a prominent centrist and member of the Frente Popular Democrático (Popular Democratic Front, FDP), a broad coalition to which the Communist Party of Venezuela is aligned. On numerous occasions since the elections, FDP members have demanded the publication of the detailed results of the vote and rejected a ruling of the Supreme Court of Justice (TSJ) in August that validated Maduro's controversial re-election.

The Communist Party condemned the detention of Márquez as a “repressive escalation against the forces that clamour for the restitution of the Constitution and the rule of law in the country”.

They reiterated their contention that “a dangerous conspiracy is underway by the constituted powers ─under total control of the PSUV leadership – to disregard the will of the people.” According to a Communist Party statement, “the Government of Nicolás Maduro has deployed in the past days ─unprecedented in recent history─ its repressive forces, to prevent the rejection of the people to its anti-democratic manoeuvres from turning into mobilization. The PCV vindicates the right to peaceful protest and political organization.”

In response to these events, the Workers Party of Ireland sent the following message of solidarity to the Communist Party of Venezuela:

Dear Comrades,

The Workers Party of Ireland sends comradely greetings and solidarity to the Communist Party of Venezuela (PCV) and wishes to sign the Joint Statement requesting the release of Enrique Marquez, and that the attacks against the leaders and organizations that make up the Popular Democratic Front cease forthwith.

With comradely Best Wishes,

Gerry Grainger

International Secretary

On behalf of the Central Executive Committee

Workers Party of Ireland