In Venezuela, thousands of people took part in nationwide demonstrations following the controversial presidential election. Opposition leader Machado also appeared for the first time. President Maduro called for counter-protests
Following the highly controversial presidential election in Venezuela, the opposition has held nationwide protests in which thousands of people took part. Opposition leader María Corina Machado, who had been in hiding for days for fear of being arrested, also appeared at the rally in the capital Caracas. “We have never been as strong as we are today” and “the regime has never been weaker,” she said to cheering supporters.
Opposition feels cheated of election victory
The opposition in the South American country had called for demonstrations against the authoritarian head of state Nicolás Maduro “in all cities of the country”. From the opposition's point of view, it is clear that their candidate Edmundo González Urrutia had won a “historic victory” in the election in the South American country.
On Monday, the largely pro-government electoral authority in Venezuela officially declared incumbent Maduro the winner of the presidential election, despite international criticism and accusations of fraud by the opposition. After the election results were announced, protests broke out, which the security forces responded to violently. The organization Foro Penal reported eleven deaths in protests on Monday and Tuesday. Machado spoke of at least 20 deaths. According to official figures, there were more than 1,200 arrests.
European states demand transparency
On Saturday, seven European states, including Germany, expressed their “great concern” about the situation and called on Venezuela to “immediately publish all electoral documents in order to ensure the full transparency and integrity of the electoral process.” The will of the Venezuelan people must be respected. The declaration was signed by Germany, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal and Spain.
Maduro has been in office since the death of his predecessor and mentor Hugo Chavez in 2013. The oil-rich country has been in a deep economic and humanitarian crisis for years. Millions of Venezuelans have left the country to escape poverty and corruption.
