Opposition supporters across Venezuela have rallied against President Nicolás Maduro’s disputed victory in last month’s presidential election. Thousands gathered in Caracas, led by opposition figure María Corina Machado, who urged demonstrators to stand firm and not fear the government’s response.
Machado, who had been in hiding after facing insurrection charges, emphasized that the voice of the people must be heard. She led the protesters while many waved copies of their election records as proof of voting irregularities. Machado, barred from running in the election, has called for increased nationwide protests to pressure Maduro into conceding.
Maduro’s supporters also held their own demonstration, and police and military forces were deployed in response. Maduro, who claims he won a third six-year term, mocked opposition candidate Edmundo Gonzalez, who had called for an “orderly transition” and urged Maduro to peacefully hand over power.
The opposition has released tallies showing Gonzalez as the true winner, but the electoral commission, aligned with Maduro, reported a 52% victory for him, citing lack of transparency. Since the election, anti-government protests have intensified, leading to over 2,400 arrests and widespread condemnation from the UN for the government’s “fierce repression” of dissent.
Protests have also spread globally, with demonstrations occurring in cities from Australia to Spain, and the European Union, the United States, and several Latin American countries have refused to recognize the election results.