On August 18, 2024, Venezuela’s political crisis intensified as thousands of citizens took to the streets in over 350 cities worldwide to protest the disputed July 28 presidential election results. Opposition leader Edmundo González Urrutia claims victory with 83.5% of the electoral acts, challenging the official results that declared incumbent Nicolás Maduro re-elected.González Urrutia called for a peaceful transition amid escalating tensions, stating, ‘Despite the threats and repression, Venezuelans demand respect for their will. Brute force and hate speech will not stop our decision to initiate a peaceful transition’. This statement comes in the wake of reports indicating over 2,400 arrests and 25 deaths during post-election protests.Meanwhile, María Corina Machado, a prominent opposition figure, hailed the global demonstrations as a ‘fundamental milestone’ and a ‘great victory’ in their fight against the official election results. ‘We demonstrated that Venezuela is united as a nation. There is no distance or time that can separate us. We demonstrated that Venezuela’s freedom is a global cause,’ Machado stated.The opposition is demanding the release of political prisoners and the publication of electoral acts. However, President Maduro has blamed González Urrutia for the protest-related deaths and what he terms ‘criminal violence’ and ‘destruction’ of public places.International reactions have been mixed. While some countries, like Argentina, have recognized González Urrutia as the elected president, others, including Brazil and Colombia, have proposed alternative solutions such as a coalition government or new elections.As the crisis deepens, both sides remain entrenched in their positions. González Urrutia emphasized, ‘Only united will we achieve that our will, expressed by more than 7 million on July 28, is respected’. The coming days are likely to be crucial in determining the path forward for Venezuela’s contested political landscape.
Key points
- Massive global protests in support of opposition leader Edmundo González Urrutia’s claim to victory in the July 28 presidential election.
- Reports of over 2,400 arrests and 25 deaths during post-election protests.
- Opposition demands release of political prisoners and publication of electoral acts, while Maduro blames González Urrutia for protest-related violence.
- International community divided on how to address the ongoing crisis.
Contradictions👾While the opposition claims González Urrutia won with 83.
5% of the electoral acts, the government maintains that Maduro was re-elected.
The true results remain disputed.
