On Monday evening, thousands gathered in central Caracas to protest the results of Venezuela's recent presidential election, which they claim was marred by fraud. The demonstrations began after President Nicolás Maduro declared victory, but the opposition disputes his claim, asserting that their candidate, Edmundo González, won decisively with 73.2% of the vote. The protests, marked by tear gas and rubber bullets from security forces, saw participants walking from nearby slums to the presidential palace, chanting for freedom and calling for the government's removal.
The Venezuelan government has responded with a heavy military and police presence, attempting to control the unrest. Protesters set fire to tyres, cars, and rubbish, and there were reports of Maduro's posters being destroyed. Rescue attempts have been made more difficult by the collapse of a vital bridge, which has isolated numerous districts and made it more difficult to reach impacted residents. Additionally, commercial flights between Venezuela and the Dominican Republic as well as Panama have been temporarily suspended, according to authorities.
In response to the protests, President Maduro has defended the election results and said that the opposition is attempting to pull off a coup. He said that the government is ready to face the issue head-on with forbearance and resolve. Several people have already been imprisoned for their involvement in the protests, despite the attorney general of Venezuela's warning that any illegal actions would have severe legal repercussions.
International reactions to the election results have been mixed. The UN and various Western and Latin American countries have urged Venezuelan authorities to release detailed voting records. Argentina has refused to recognize Maduro's victory, prompting Venezuela to recall its diplomats from Buenos Aires, while other countries have withdrawn their diplomats in response to what they describe as interventionist actions. Although the US has voiced reservations regarding the election results, it has not yet made a decision to alter its sanctions regime. An emergency meeting of the Organization of American States (OAS) is scheduled to discuss the situation.
