Maduro’s Disputed Win Ignites Protests
Venezuela is on edge as fresh protests loom following the country’s election authority’s ratification of President Nicolas Maduro’s victory.
Despite credible claims that he lost last Sunday’s election, the National Electoral Council (CNE), loyal to Maduro, declared him the winner with 52 percent of the vote. Opposition candidate Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia was reported to have received 43 percent.
International Condemnation and Recognition of Opposition
In a significant international move, Argentina, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Panama, and Uruguay joined the United States and Peru in recognizing Gonzalez Urrutia as the true president-elect. This wave of recognition has intensified the political crisis, with both Maduro and the opposition, led by Maria Corina Machado and Gonzalez Urrutia, calling for mass demonstrations over the weekend.
Maduro’s Defiant Stance
Maduro, who has been in power since 2013, fiercely dismissed allegations of vote fraud, branding them as a “trap” by Washington to justify a coup. He has also threatened to imprison Machado and Gonzalez Urrutia. The country, once wealthy due to its oil reserves, has seen a GDP drop of 80 percent under Maduro’s leadership, leading over seven million citizens to emigrate.
Opposition’s Call for Transparency
Gonzalez Urrutia skipped a Supreme Court hearing demanded by Maduro to certify the election results. However, other opposition figures have called for a detailed public vote count, emphasizing the need for transparency to ensure peace. The opposition has launched a website showing copies of 84 percent of the ballots, indicating a clear win for Gonzalez Urrutia, which the government claims are forged.
Rising Tensions and Fear
Machado, barred from running herself, has gone into hiding, citing fears for her life and urging supporters to rally. Meanwhile, Maduro has mobilized his followers for what he calls “the mother of all marches.” The NGO Foro Penal reported 11 deaths in early-week protests, while Machado claimed at least 20 fatalities. Over 1,000 people have been arrested in the post-election unrest.
Global Calls for Impartial Verification
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has highlighted “overwhelming evidence” of Gonzalez Urrutia’s victory and expressed concern for the safety of opposition leaders. Brazil, Colombia, and Mexico have urged an impartial verification of the results and called for detailed voting data to be published. Maduro’s previous reelection in 2018 faced widespread rejection from Latin American countries, the US, and EU members.
With Maduro retaining the loyalty of the military and key state institutions, and support from Russia, China, and Cuba, Venezuela’s political future remains uncertain as the country braces for potentially explosive protests.
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