Venezuelans have taken to the streets in massive protests following the official declaration by the electoral authority that President Nicolas Maduro won the recent presidential election. The opposition has decried the election as fraudulent, igniting widespread unrest across the country.
The announcement of Maduro’s victory has been met with significant opposition. Demonstrators have expressed their outrage by toppling a statue of Maduro’s predecessor, Hugo Chavez, in the state of Falcon, symbolizing their frustration and desire for change. The protests come on the heels of a controversial election held on Sunday, which has been heavily criticized for alleged irregularities and voter intimidation.
Allegations of fraud
Opposition candidate Edmundo Gonzalez has claimed that his campaign possesses evidence proving he won the disputed election, despite the electoral authorities declaring Maduro the victor. Gonzalez, along with opposition leader Maria Corina Machado, announced that they have obtained over 70% of the tally sheets from Sunday’s election, showing Gonzalez with more than double the votes of Maduro.
Gonzalez addressed supporters from his campaign headquarters in Caracas, asserting the legitimacy of his victory. “We have in our hands the tally sheets that demonstrate our categorical and mathematically irreversible victory,” he declared. The National Electoral Council, loyal to Maduro’s United Socialist Party of Venezuela, officially declared Maduro the winner, granting him his third six-year term.
Protests across the country
Protests erupted nationwide, with significant demonstrations in the capital city, Caracas. Initially peaceful, the protests escalated when riot police in full gear blocked a caravan of demonstrators, leading to a violent confrontation. Police used tear gas to disperse the crowd, and some protesters retaliated by throwing stones and other objects. Amidst the chaos, a gun was fired, but fortunately, no one was injured by gunfire.
The protests reflect a broader desire among Venezuelans for political change and economic recovery. The election, described as one of the most peaceful in recent memory, had raised hopes that Venezuela could transition away from 25 years of single-party rule without bloodshed.
Calls for peace and justice
Despite the unrest, Gonzalez and Machado have urged their supporters to remain calm and gather peacefully. They have called for a celebration of the election results at 11 am on Tuesday. “I speak to you with the calmness of the truth,” Gonzalez said, emphasizing the legitimacy of their claims. Machado supported his statement, revealing that tally sheets showed Maduro and Gonzalez received approximately 2.7 million and 6.2 million votes, respectively.
Maduro, addressing the nation in a televised ceremony, denounced the opposition’s actions as an attempted coup. “We have never been moved by hatred. On the contrary, we have always been victims of the powerful,” he stated. Maduro insisted that Venezuela’s laws would be upheld and that any attempt to disrupt the political order would be thwarted.
(With inputs from agencies)