The political crisis in Venezuela has intensified following the disputed re-election of President Nicolás Maduro, with the death toll from protests rising to at least three and dozens arrested. Opposition leaders, led by María Corina Machado, claim to have concrete evidence of electoral fraud, asserting that their candidate, Edmundo González Urrutia, won with over 70% of the vote.The National Electoral Council (CNE) officially declared Maduro the winner with 51.1% of the votes. However, the opposition claims to have accessed copies of 73% of the voting records, projecting a clear victory for González.Protests have erupted across the country, with demonstrators chanting slogans such as ‘freedom, freedom’ and ‘this government will fall’. Security forces have responded with force, using tear gas and arrests to disperse crowds. In Coro, capital of Falcón state, protesters toppled a statue of former President Hugo Chávez.The international community has expressed deep concern over the election’s transparency. The Organization of American States (OAS) has officially declared Maduro’s re-election illegitimate, demanding that he accept defeat and open the path to democracy. Several Latin American countries have called for a complete review of the election results with independent observers.In response, the Venezuelan government has expelled diplomats from seven countries and suspended flights with Panama and the Dominican Republic. The government has also begun arresting opposition figures, including a high-ranking member of the opposition party VP.Despite the crackdown, opposition leader Machado has announced new protests for tomorrow, starting at the United Nations building in Caracas. The situation remains tense, with both sides accusing each other of attempting to subvert democracy.
Key points
- At least three people have died in protests following Maduro’s disputed re-election.
- The opposition claims to have evidence that their candidate won with over 70% of the vote.
- The OAS has declared Maduro’s re-election illegitimate and called for new elections.
- New protests have been announced for tomorrow, starting at the UN building in Caracas.
Contradictions👾There are conflicting reports on the exact number of deaths, with some sources reporting one, two, or three fatalities.
👾The opposition claims their candidate won with over 70% of the vote, while the National Electoral Council declares Maduro the winner with 51.
1%.
