The Venezuelan election crisis has taken a dramatic turn as President Nicolás Maduro announced a 10-day suspension of access to the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter. Maduro accused X’s owner, Elon Musk, of launching an ‘attack’ on his re-election and inciting hatred and violence in the country. This move comes amid escalating tensions following the disputed July 28 presidential election.The opposition, led by María Corina Machado, continues to challenge the official results, which show Maduro winning with 52% of the votes according to the National Electoral Council (CNE). Machado claims that opposition candidate Edmundo González actually won with 67% of the votes. In a significant development, Machado has offered Maduro a ‘negotiated transition’ deal, which includes ‘guarantees, safe conduct, and incentives’ if he agrees to step down.Machado, who is reportedly in hiding due to safety concerns, stated, ‘We are determined to advance in a negotiation. It will be a complex and delicate process, in which we will unite the entire nation’. She emphasized that Maduro has ‘lost all legitimacy’ and that the international community should recognize González’s victory and pressure Maduro to accept a negotiated transition.The international community has expressed growing concern over the situation. The foreign ministers of Mexico, Colombia, and Brazil have called for Venezuela’s electoral authority to publish detailed vote tallies. The United States has warned against any attempts to arrest opposition leaders, while Chile’s President Gabriel Boric stated that he ‘does not recognize Maduro’s self-proclaimed victory’.As tensions continue to rise, there are reports of increased repression against opposition figures. Two opposition politicians have reportedly been arrested, with the opposition condemning an ‘escalation of repression’. The situation remains highly volatile, with both sides entrenched in their positions and the international community calling for a peaceful and transparent resolution to the crisis.
Key points
- President Maduro blocks access to social media platform X for 10 days, accusing Elon Musk of inciting violence.
- Opposition leader María Corina Machado offers Maduro a ‘negotiated transition’ deal, including guarantees and safe passage.
- The opposition claims Edmundo González won the election with 67% of votes, while official results show Maduro winning with 52%.
- International community, including Mexico, Colombia, and Brazil, calls for transparency in the electoral process.
Contradictions👾There are conflicting claims about the election results, with the government declaring Maduro the winner with 52% of votes, while the opposition claims González won with 67%.
👾The government accuses the opposition and international actors of inciting violence, while the opposition claims they are victims of increased repression.
