Politics Opposition in Venezuela: "We are not afraid"
Following the controversial presidential election in Venezuela, the opposition continues to fight for a change of power and a withdrawal of authoritarian President Nicolás Maduro.
31.07.2024, 05:18
31.07.2024, 05:19
SDA
Thousands of government opponents took to the streets in the capital Caracas to protest against what they see as the manipulation of the official election results, which show the head of state, who has been in power since 2013, as the winner. They chanted "We are not afraid" and cheered on their presidential candidate Edmundo González Urrutia.
The true result of the election was clear and non-negotiable, opposition leader María Corina Machado shouted to her supporters from a grandstand. "The only thing we are prepared to negotiate is a peaceful transfer of power." According to the opposition, it has access to over 80 percent of the detailed election results from the individual constituencies, which the National Electoral Council has not yet published. According to the results, González is expected to receive 67 percent of the vote and Maduro 30 percent.
After the presidential election on Sunday, the electoral authority loyal to the government officially declared Maduro the winner. The opposition accuses the government of electoral fraud. The USA, the EU and a number of Latin American countries are also questioning the official election results. The Organization of American States does not recognize Maduro's re-election and has scheduled an emergency meeting of the Permanent Council on the situation in Venezuela for Wednesday.
Biden and Lula urge publication of detailed election results
In view of the doubts surrounding the official election results, US President Joe Biden and Brazil's head of state Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva called for transparency. They agreed that the Venezuelan electoral authorities should publish the detailed lists of results from the individual polling stations, the White House announced after a telephone conversation between the two presidents. They shared the view that the outcome of the election was decisive for democracy far beyond Venezuela.
According to the non-governmental organization Foro Penal, at least eleven demonstrators, including two young people, have died in protests against the election results. According to the Attorney General's Office, one police officer was also killed.
Across the country, 749 demonstrators have been arrested, said Attorney General Tarek William Saab. Among other things, they had attacked police stations, electoral offices, town halls and hospitals. They are accused of terrorism, incitement to hatred and blocking public roads.
President Maduro announced a security operation in which soldiers and police would patrol the streets and take action against violent groups. He accused the opposition and the US government of planning a coup with the help of armed groups. "The oligarchy cannot stand the election result," he said. "But fascism will not get through in Venezuela."
UN Human Rights Commissioner calls for freedom of assembly
UN Human Rights Commissioner Volker Türk expressed concern about the violence in a statement. "I am alarmed by reports of the disproportionate use of force by security forces and armed groups supporting the government," Türk said. "I call on the government to respect the right of all Venezuelans to assemble, to protest peacefully and to express their opinions freely and without fear."
Venezuela has been in a serious political and economic crisis for years. In the once prosperous country with large oil reserves, more than 80 percent of the population live below the poverty line. There are repeated power cuts, and gasoline, gas and medicines are in short supply. More than seven million people - a quarter of the population - have left Venezuela in the past ten years due to poverty and violence.
