Let’s talk about the turbulent situation in Venezuela following the recent election. Opposition candidate Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia has announced he has proof he won Sunday’s disputed election, just hours after President Nicolas Maduro claimed victory for a third term. This announcement has sparked violent riots across the country.
Thousands of protesters have taken to the streets of Caracas and other cities, chanting “Freedom, freedom!” and “This government is going to fall!” They’ve set fire to tires and trash, built barricades to block police vehicles, and clashed with security forces, who responded with tear gas and rubber bullets. Protesters fought back with Molotov cocktails and rocks, carrying Venezuelan flags and tearing down Maduro campaign posters.
In the midst of the chaos, at least two statues of Hugo Chavez, the late leader who appointed Maduro as his successor, were toppled by protesters. According to the rights group Foro Penal, one person has been killed, and 46 others have been arrested.
Opposition leader Maria Corina Machado has been vocal, claiming that a review of voting records shows Gonzalez won 6.27 million votes to Maduro’s 2.75 million. Speaking to supporters, Gonzalez urged Venezuelans to protest peacefully, insisting his victory was clear and mathematically irreversible. However, despite his call for calm, the streets remain filled with anger and unrest.
Even neighborhoods that were once strongholds of support for Maduro have erupted in protest. In Petare, a poor area of Caracas, residents are demanding Maduro’s resignation. The president, meanwhile, attended a meeting where the National Electoral Council (CNE) certified his reelection. He dismissed international criticism and framed the unrest as an attempted coup.
Sunday’s election was marred by accusations of fraud and political intimidation. The CNE claimed Maduro won with 51.2% of the vote, compared to 44.2% for Gonzalez, but has yet to provide a detailed breakdown. This has prompted calls for transparency from international bodies like the United Nations and the European Union.
Countries such as Brazil, Colombia, and Chile have urged a review of the election results. The US-based Carter Center has called for the immediate publication of detailed polling station results. In response to the international outcry, Maduro’s office has withdrawn diplomatic staff from several countries and suspended flights to Panama and the Dominican Republic.
Independent polls had predicted an end to 25 years of ‘Chavismo’—the populist movement started by Chavez. However, with the controversial election results, Maduro continues to hold power. Under his leadership, Venezuela has experienced significant economic decline, with GDP plummeting by 80% and over seven million citizens fleeing the country.
The economic collapse, characterized by hyperinflation and widespread shortages, has driven many Venezuelans to emigrate, impacting the southern border of the United States.
