Venezuela is experiencing widespread unrest and public shutdowns following a controversial presidential election, with ongoing disputes over vote counts and reports of violence.
Key Developments
- Election Dispute:
- On Wednesday, shops and public transport across Venezuela closed as tensions mounted over the disputed presidential election.
- President Nicolás Maduro, who has led Venezuela since 2013, was declared the winner of the recent vote by the electoral council.
- The opposition claims its candidate, Edmundo Gonzalez, received more than twice the support of Maduro, based on their tally of about 90% of the votes.
- Claims of Fraud:
- The government attributes delays in vote tally publication to a system hack allegedly originating from North Macedonia, but has not provided evidence.
- The U.S.-based Carter Center criticized the election as undemocratic, citing flaws and a lack of transparency.
- Maduro’s Response:
- Maduro has rejected international threats and potential new U.S. sanctions, asserting that his party is prepared to release its vote counts.
- He has also called on the top court to compel opposition parties to release their results.
- Opposition’s Counterclaim:
- The opposition launched a website showcasing detailed ballot box counts from the majority of Venezuela’s 30,000 voting machines.
- According to this site, Gonzalez secured 67% of the vote compared to 30% for Maduro, based on nearly 82% of polling data.
International Reactions
- Calls for Transparency:
- International pressure is mounting on the Venezuelan government to release comprehensive results.
- The U.S. and Brazil have joined in demanding transparency.
- U.S. Diplomat’s Remarks:
- Brian Nichols, a senior U.S. diplomat, suggested the failure to release full results could either be due to unwillingness to confirm Gonzalez’s victory or attempts to alter the results.
Ongoing Protests and Violence
- Protests:
- The election dispute has led to deadly protests, which the government has denounced as an attempted coup.
- Human Rights Watch reports indicate at least 20 deaths in the post-election demonstrations.
- Government Actions:
- Maduro’s allies, including Congress head Jorge Rodriguez, have called for the arrest of Gonzalez and opposition leader María Corina Machado due to their involvement in the protests.
