After the recent elections in Venezuela, protests continue, placing increased pressure on the controversial leader, Nicolás Maduro. Despite the mounting calls for transparency regarding the voting details from the July 28th election, Maduro remains steadfast in his position. According to human rights organizations, clashes between Venezuelan security forces and protesters on the streets have resulted in at least 20 deaths.
On August 3rd, Maduro announced the arrest of 2,000 civilians and criticized those who dissent against his government. Speaking at a rally in the capital city of Caracas, Maduro declared, “There will be no forgiveness this time. We have apprehended 2,000 prisoners, who will be sent to Tocorón and Tocuyito prisons for the most severe punishment they deserve.”
During what Maduro supporters called a “National March for Peace” rally, allies of the controversial leader gathered outside the Miraflores presidential palace. Maduro delivered a fiery speech condemning the protests led by the opposition.
Maduro ordered the arrest of opposition leader María Corina Machado and presidential candidate Edmundo González on allegations of electoral fraud. He demanded a prison sentence ranging from 15 to 30 years for the two individuals. Reports indicate that a court in Caracas issued an arrest warrant for Machado on July 31, citing her questioning of the election results and incitement of protesters.
However, protesters stand firm in their beliefs after a week of demonstrations, asserting that evidence shows González emerged victorious in the July 28th election.
On August 3rd, with support from other members of the Democratic Unitary Platform, the largest anti-Chavez alliance in the country, Machado stood on a truck in front of a group of opposition supporters, encouraging Venezuelans to fight for electoral fairness.
Machado shared a video of the opposition rally on the social media platform X, stating, “After six days of brutal repression, they thought they could suppress us, stop us, or intimidate us… look at the people’s response.”
She added, “Today, the presence of every citizen on the streets of Venezuela demonstrates the enormous civic strength and determination we possess.”
Presidential candidate González also expressed support for the protesters on social media, calling for transparency in the election results.
On his X account, González said, “Today, a united Venezuela steps out of their homes, without fear, peacefully demanding respect for their vote with their families. We will ensure your votes are respected, and we will restart Venezuela’s institutionalization.”
The protests following the Venezuelan election coincide with a sharp decline in Chavismo, named after former socialist president Hugo Chavez, hitting an all-time low. Prior to the presidential election, Maduro lost support from the country’s socialist party voters, which historically remained loyal to the party.
This loss of support largely stems from the unprecedented economic crisis Maduro has faced since assuming office in 2013. According to the International Monetary Fund, Venezuela’s GDP has shrunk by over 75% from 2013 to 2021, marking one of the largest economic collapses in a non-war-torn country in nearly fifty years.
Data from The United Nations Refugee Agency shows that over seven million Venezuelans have fled the country since 2014.
Numerous countries, including Brazil, Mexico, Colombia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, and the UK, are increasing pressure on Maduro to disclose the election voting details, with the United States being one of those countries.
On August 1st, Senators Marco Rubio (Republican from Florida), Dick Durbin (Democratic from Illinois), Rick Scott (Republican from Florida), Tim Kaine (Democratic from Virginia), Bill Cassidy (Republican from Louisiana), and Michael Bennet (Democratic from Colorado) pressured Maduro and introduced a resolution calling for the U.S. to recognize González as Venezuela’s elected president.
Rubio stated in a release, “The Venezuelan people’s desire for freedom and democracy is admirable; the recent electoral process has shown the Venezuelan people’s resilience, despite the dictator Maduro’s false claims of victory.”
The following day, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken called González and Machado, congratulating the opposition candidate for receiving the most votes in Venezuela’s presidential election on July 28th. He commended the opposition’s extensive efforts to ensure transparent vote counting.