Leopoldo López

Leopoldo López is a prominent Venezuelan political leader, activist, and former mayor of Chacao, who has become a global advocate for democracy and human rights. Born in Caracas in 1971, López holds an academic background from prestigious institutions, earning a degree in economics from Kenyon College and a master’s in public policy from Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government. López first entered public life as mayor of Chacao, a municipality in Caracas, where he served from 2000 to 2008 and garnered widespread popularity for his focus on security, community programs, and transparency.

As a co-founder of the political party Voluntad Popular (Popular Will), López quickly became a vocal critic of the Venezuelan government under Hugo Chávez and later Nicolás Maduro. His commitment to peaceful, democratic change made him one of the primary opposition figures in Venezuela, advocating for free elections, human rights, and economic reforms to address widespread poverty and inequality. López’s activism led to his arrest in 2014 on charges widely criticized by international human rights organizations, including Amnesty International, as politically motivated. Despite his incarceration, which included periods in solitary confinement, López continued to be a symbol of resilience and hope for many Venezuelans.

Following his release from house arrest in 2020, López went into exile and continues his advocacy from abroad, working closely with international organizations to bring awareness to Venezuela’s political and humanitarian crisis. Today, López is a widely respected voice for democracy and a driving force behind the World Liberty Congress, uniting pro-democracy activists as they fight autocracies worldwide.