The political crisis in Venezuela has intensified as the United States reportedly offered President Nicolás Maduro an amnesty deal in exchange for his resignation and recognition of opposition candidate Edmundo González Urrutia’s victory in the recent presidential election. According to The Wall Street Journal, this offer includes immunity from prosecution and guarantees against extradition for Maduro and his allies. However, Maduro has rejected the offer, maintaining his claim to victory and control over the country.The opposition, led by María Corina Machado, has called for a global protest on August 17 to demand recognition of their claimed victory. Machado stated, ‘This Saturday, August 17, we will descend into the streets of Venezuela and the world (…) and cry out together for the world to support our victory and recognize the truth and popular sovereignty’. The opposition claims that González Urrutia won the election with 67% of the votes, based on digitalized copies of over 80% of the voting records.The situation remains volatile, with reports of widespread arrests and violence. According to human rights organizations, post-electoral unrest has claimed 24 lives, while Maduro reported 2,200 arrests. The National Electoral Council (CNE) ratified Maduro’s victory on August 2 with 52% of the votes but has not released the exact count and voting protocols, claiming to have been a victim of a computer hacking.International pressure is mounting, with the US, the European Union, and several Latin American countries calling for the publication of the electoral acts. The US has reportedly set November as a deadline to reach an agreement with Maduro, coinciding with the upcoming US elections. As the crisis deepens, the future of Venezuelan democracy hangs in the balance, with no clear path to resolution in sight.
Key points
- The US has offered Maduro an amnesty deal in exchange for his resignation and recognition of the opposition’s victory.
- Venezuelan opposition has called for a global protest on August 17 to demand recognition of their claimed election victory.
- Post-election unrest has resulted in 24 deaths and 2,200 arrests, according to various sources.
- The National Electoral Council has not released detailed election results, citing a cyberattack.
Contradictions👾There are conflicting reports on the exact number of arrests, with some sources citing over 1,300 and others reporting 2,200.
👾While most sources report the opposition claiming 67% of the vote for González Urrutia, one source mentions 70%.
