Venezuela Protests: Thousands Take to the Streets Post-Election
On August 3rd, thousands of Venezuelans continued to protest following the recent presidential election. President Nicolas Maduro announced that around 2,000 people have been arrested during protests against the election results over the past few days. As of August 3rd, at least 20 people have died in post-election protests in Venezuela.
Supporters and Protest
According to Reuters, not only the opposition but also supporters of President Maduro took to the streets. They claimed to be defending democracy. Alfredo Valera, the chairman of Venezuela’s Fontur labor union, who participated in the pro-government rally in the capital Caracas, stated, “Today we are here to respond to the president’s call to defend democracy.”
Contested Election Results
On August 2nd, the National Electoral Council of Venezuela reaffirmed the results showing that President Maduro won with 51.2% of the vote compared to 46% for opposition candidate Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia. However, opposition leader Maria Corina Machado argued that election records indicated Gonzalez won with twice as many votes as Maduro. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken issued a statement asserting that opposition candidate Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia had garnered the most votes in the Venezuelan presidential election.
President Maduro’s Response
Speaking to his supporters at a rally in Caracas, President Maduro declared, “This time there will be no forgiveness.” He pledged to impose maximum penalties on those arrested during the protests, according to Reuters.
Beyond Caracas, protests have erupted in other cities such as Valencia, Maracaibo, and San Cristobal. The Organization of American States (OAS) reported that the protests were planned in advance. The OAS issued a statement saying, “Today we call for an end to political prisoners, torture, disappearances, and killings.
To date, countries including the United States, Argentina, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Panama, and Uruguay have voiced opposition to the election results and expressed support for opposition candidate Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia.
