Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado urged her supporters to “mobilize” on Wednesday, following President Nicolas Maduro’s declaration of victory in a highly contested election. The call comes amid significant unrest and skepticism in Venezuela after the electoral authorities failed to provide detailed results supporting Maduro’s win.
Since the election on Sunday, 16 people have died in protests, according to the opposition, which claims their candidate, Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia, is the rightful winner. The opposition has released substantial voting data suggesting Gonzalez Urrutia won by a large margin, consistent with pre-election polls.
“We spent months building a robust platform that could defend the vote and unquestionably demonstrate our triumph. WE SUCCEEDED,” Machado, who was barred from running, stated on social media platform X. “Now it is up to ALL of us to assert the truth that we ALL know. Let’s mobilize. WE WILL SUCCEED,” she added.
Countries such as Brazil, the United States, and the European Union have called on Venezuelan authorities to release the detailed voting data. The White House warned that international patience is wearing thin.
Maduro, while addressing journalists outside the Supreme Court of Justice, expressed readiness to present all records and filed an appeal against what he called an “attack against the electoral process.” He also lashed out at Machado and Gonzalez Urrutia, suggesting they “should be behind bars.”
On Monday, security forces used tear gas and rubber bullets against protesters shouting “Freedom, freedom!” and “This government is going to fall!” Machado reported 177 detentions and 11 “forced disappearances,” while Attorney General Tarek William Saab stated that 749 had been arrested, some facing potential terrorism charges. The military reported one death and 23 injuries among its ranks.
Undeterred, thousands demonstrated peacefully in support of the opposition on Tuesday in several cities. Machado emphasized on X that the opposition had offered to negotiate a peaceful transition, but the regime opted for “repression, violence and lies.”
Brian Nichols, the top US diplomat for Latin America, said the opposition’s data provided “irrefutable evidence” of Maduro’s defeat “by millions of votes.” However, the Organization of American States (OAS) failed to adopt a resolution calling for the immediate release of detailed results, with notable abstentions from Colombia and Brazil.
Maduro has led Venezuela since 2013, overseeing a significant economic collapse and a mass exodus of citizens. He faces accusations of authoritarianism and electoral fraud. His 2018 reelection was widely rejected as fraudulent by numerous countries, including the US and EU members. Despite years of US sanctions, Maduro maintains control with the support of the military and key state institutions, as well as backing from Russia, China, and Cuba.
Peru recognized Gonzalez Urrutia as Venezuela’s legitimate president, prompting Caracas to sever diplomatic ties. Venezuela has also withdrawn its diplomatic staff from eight critical Latin American countries and asked their envoys to leave.
Meanwhile, hundreds of Maduro supporters rallied in Caracas, dismissing allegations of fraud. “They have said the same thing in previous years, in previous elections they always talk about ‘fraud,'” said Edwin Blanco, a 30-year-old supporter. Ledys Rodriguez, 65, expressed her dismay at the opposition’s actions, blaming foreign interference.
The situation in Venezuela remains volatile, with the opposition calling for continued mobilization and the international community closely watching the developments.
01st Aug 2024
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