Protests Erupt Following Maduro’s Controversial Victory in Venezuela Election

Widespread protests have erupted across Venezuela following the official declaration of President Nicolás Maduro as the winner of a disputed election. The opposition has alleged widespread fraud, leading to demonstrations throughout the country. In the state of Falcon, protesters even toppled a statue of Maduro’s predecessor, Hugo Chávez.
In the impoverished Petare area of Caracas, demonstrators voiced their discontent by chanting slogans against Maduro and tearing down his campaign posters. Some protesters attempted to march towards Miraflores, the presidential palace. In response, police and National Guard units were heavily deployed, using tear gas to disperse crowds. Reports also indicated that “colectivos,” pro-Maduro paramilitary groups, fired at protesters.
Public outrage grew after the National Electoral Council (CNE) confirmed Maduro’s re-election to a six-year term, running from 2025 to 2031. However, the CNE, which is controlled by Maduro loyalists, has yet to release detailed results from the 30,000 polling stations nationwide, intensifying political tensions and calls for greater transparency. Opposition representatives claim that their counts show presidential candidate Edmundo González significantly ahead of Maduro.
Opposition leader María Corina Machado announced that her coalition’s results indicated González had won more than 70 percent of the vote. González, who stood by Machado during the press conference, echoed her claim, asserting that they had the records to prove their victory. He urged supporters to stay calm and maintain peace.
Maduro, addressing the nation on Monday, alleged an attempted coup and vowed to uphold Venezuela’s laws. As he spoke, demonstrators began blocking roads, including key routes connecting Caracas to the main international airport.
The opposition has rejected Maduro’s claims of a coup and is calling for peaceful protests. They argue that the election results do not reflect the true will of the people. Deyvid Cadenas, a first-time voter, expressed skepticism about the results, stating he felt cheated.
International observers and foreign leaders have urged Venezuela to release a complete breakdown of the election results. The United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has called for transparency and the timely publication of results. The Carter Center, which had electoral observers in Venezuela, also emphasized the need for the release of detailed results from each polling station.
The situation remains tense as Venezuelans await a resolution to the political crisis and the release of the complete election results.