'Freedom!' chants at Venezuelan opposition rallies ahead of election show depth of needs, fear

BARINAS, Venezuela — The chant is concise, but meaningful for millions of Venezuelans in 2024: "Freedom!" The calls for "libertad" have been a staple of the opposition's events ahead of the highly anticipated July 28 presidential election. With the official start of campaigns this week, they were deafening during a massive rally Saturday in the western Venezuelan state of Barinas, the home state of the late fiery President Hugo Chávez. Students, state employees, retirees, agriculture workers...