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On Tuesday, Venezuelans took to the streets to protest, demanding President Nicolas Maduro acknowledge his defeat in Sunday’s election, following a major international observer’s conclusion that the vote was undemocratic.
The protests, which the government labeled as an attempted “coup,” began after the electoral authority declared Maduro had won a third term with 51% of the votes, continuing a 25-year socialist rule. The opposition, however, claims their candidate, Edmundo Gonzalez, received more than twice as many votes as Maduro, based on 90% of the vote tallies they accessed.
According to the rights group Foro Penal, at least 11 people have died in various incidents related to the election and subsequent protests. The U.S.-based Carter Center, which monitored the vote, stated late Tuesday that the election “did not meet international standards of electoral integrity and cannot be considered democratic.” The Center criticized the electoral authority’s failure to publish detailed results, highlighting numerous flaws in the process.
In response to international pressure, including calls for transparency from multiple countries and potential new U.S. sanctions, the Venezuelan government has been defiant. Both Maduro and his top legislative ally accused Gonzalez and opposition leader Maria Corina Machado of inciting post-election violence. Maduro, in a televised speech, blamed the opposition for civilian attacks and fires, demanding accountability from Gonzalez.
Maduro’s ally, Jorge Rodriguez, head of the ruling socialist party in Congress, went further, calling for the arrest of both Gonzalez and Machado, accusing them of leading a “fascist conspiracy.” Costa Rica has offered political asylum to both opposition leaders, but Machado expressed her intent to continue fighting from within Venezuela.
Maduro, reaching out to allies like China and Russia, alleged foreign interference in the election, specifically blaming billionaire Elon Musk without evidence. General Vladimir Padrino, Venezuela’s defense minister, echoed claims of a “coup in progress” but assured that the military would uphold Maduro’s rule.
Maduro’s tenure has seen economic collapse and mass migration from Venezuela. A continued Maduro presidency is expected to exacerbate the exodus, with many Venezuelans already planning to leave. Opposition leader Machado, barred from running, spearheaded Gonzalez’s campaign and accused Maduro of electoral fraud for the first time on Tuesday.
Amid the unrest, opposition supporters marched in several cities, facing violent crackdowns from security forces. Many businesses stayed shut as tensions remained high. In Valencia, protesters spray-painted “fraud” on the streets, while in pro-Maduro demonstrations, supporters danced and revved motorcycle engines, celebrating the declared result.
The situation has prompted further arrests of opposition leaders, including Freddy Superlano of Voluntad Popular and Ricardo Estevez of Vente Venezuela. For many Venezuelans, the election represents a tipping point, with decisions about emigration hinging on the political future.
As Jorge Salcedo, a 23-year-old graduate in Caracas, stated, “It feels like I no longer have anything to do here in Venezuela… We’ll start from scratch in another country… We live in a country with repression, and we live in a country under dictatorship. It was our last chance.”
Amid the turmoil, the United States recognized Edmundo Gonzalez as the legitimate winner of the election. Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s statement underscored U.S. support for Gonzalez.
“Given the overwhelming evidence, it is clear to the United States and, most importantly, to the Venezuelan people that Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia won the most votes in Venezuela’s July 28 presidential election,” Blinken said in a statement on Thursday.
The dispute over the presidential election results has sparked protests in Venezuela. Venezuela’s electoral council proclaimed Maduro, who has been in power since 2013, the winner of the July 28 election with 51% of the vote.
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