Protests broke out across Venezuelan cities on Monday following the formal declaration of Nicolás Maduro's presidential victory by the electoral authority. The election has been marred by accusations of fraud, igniting widespread discontent.
In Caracas, the capital, demonstrators blocked roads and hundreds took to the streets, banging pots and pans in protest. At the city's main military base, where Maduro resides, protesters set fire to his election posters. Similar protests erupted in other cities, including Maracay, where opposition activist Esthefania Natera reported police using teargas on peaceful demonstrators. In the coastal state of Falcón, a statue of Maduro was toppled, as shown in social media videos.
Analysts predict that the next 24 hours will be crucial in determining Maduro's response to the allegations. If protests continue, the country may face a new wave of unrest. In the past, the military, which has consistently backed Maduro and his predecessor Hugo Chavez, has suppressed demonstrations.
During a ceremony at the National Electoral Council (CNE) on Monday, Maduro was declared the winner amid cheers from the audience. CNE President Elvis Amoroso claimed, "Venezuela has the best electoral system in the world!" However, the election was riddled with irregularities, including opposition witnesses being barred from the CNE headquarters during the vote count and allegations of vote suppression.
Maduro's government controls nearly all state institutions, including the CNE, which faced accusations of manipulating turnout figures in 2017. The opposition coalition, led by Maria Corina Machado, rejected Maduro's win, claiming their candidate, Edmundo Gonzalez, received 70% of the votes. "We won, and everyone knows it," said Machado, who plans to make a statement later on Monday.
The United States, along with regional leaders from Peru and Chile, has raised concerns about the election's validity. Brazil has called for the publication of detailed election data to ensure transparency. Senior Biden administration officials have urged Venezuelan authorities to release precinct-level results, citing discrepancies between independent analysis and the announced results.
The US and international community have not ruled out sanctions if Venezuelan authorities fail to provide the requested data or if the results are deemed fraudulent. US sanctions against Venezuela, first imposed in 2017, have intensified amid the country's deepening political crisis. The opposition's accusations threaten Venezuela's attempts to reintegrate into the international community after Maduro's pledge last year to hold free and fair elections in exchange for sanctions relief. The US plans to discuss the situation in forums such as the Organization of American States (OAS) and the G7.
