In Venezuela’s Catia, long seen as a stronghold of Nicolas Maduro’s party, there is anger. Protesters have taken to the streets upset with the results of the elections that have handed Maduro another term in office. The electoral council, controlled by Maduro loyalists, declared that the President had won another term polling 51% of the votes. Independent pollsters have called this an implausible result. One protester who wore a mask and did not want to be identified said, “I came to the street, we want freedom. We are tired of this government, we want a change. We want to be free in Venezuela. We want our families to return here, we don’t want them to leave anymore. We want to be free with our families.” Banging their pots and pans, protesters said they want change. A woman protester told Reuters, “I came here alone, but here I am accompanied by all the community of Catia asking for freedom, so (Nicolas) Maduro leaves with all of his criminals and they are imprisoned.”
As Nicolas Maduro took charge once again as the President of Venezuela, the Opposition has also declared victory for itself, saying the voting tallies clearly show the Opposition candidate Edmundo Gonzalez has won. Opposition leader Maria Corina Machado told supporters, “At this moment, I am very excited to tell everyone that we have 73.20% of the voting tallies.” Standing next to her was the Opposition’s Presidential candidate Edmundo Gonzalez. “We have in our hands the tallies that demonstrate our categorical and mathematically irreversible victory,” he said.
Protests have erupted across Venezuela after the results handed Maduro a third term. In Coro, protesters brought down a statue of Hugo Chavez, former President and Maduro’s mentor. At least two people were killed in connection with the vote count or protests – one overnight in the border state of Tachira and another in Maracay on Monday. Venezuela has been facing an economic crisis even though it has the world’s highest oil reserves. More than seven million Venezuelans have fled the country in the hope of a better life outside.
Most exit polls had predicted a loss for Maduro. In the run up to voting day, Maduro had also said there would be ‘bloodbath’ if he wasn’t re-elected. As reports of protests and violence came in, Maduro accused the extreme right of being behind the violence and said he knows how to deal with violence. “I can tell the people of Venezuela that if they (protesters) have done harm, we are acting. We already know this movie, so once more, along with the civil, military and police union we are acting. We already know how they operate,” Maduro said on state TV.
Countries like the U.S have already raised concerns over the election result. Argentina’s Javier Milei has called it a hollow victory for Maduro. Panama has put all diplomatic relations with Venezuela on hold and will withdraw its personnel from there.
