Support Regarding Claims of Victory and International Backing
Venezuela’s opposition alliance has demanded global demonstrations on August 17 to back up its claim to have won the most recent presidential contest. Declared the winner by the government-owned election body, Nicolás Maduro received a third straight term. However, the opposition contends that Edmundo González, their candidate, really won.
The European Union and the US have supported the opposition’s demand for openness. However, America still needs to acknowledge Maduro’s triumph. Opposition leader MarĂa Corina Machado responded by urging Venezuelan citizens everywhere to “take to the streets” on August 17 to back the opposition’s assertion. In a video uploaded on social media, Machado said, “Let’s shout together for the world to support our victory and recognise truth and popular sovereignty.”
Disputed Results and Calls for Transparency
Not long after the July 28 vote, the opposition posted a dataset online claiming to show González’s apparent triumph. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken also declared there is “overwhelming evidence” González got the most votes. Notwithstanding this, the Maduro regime is confident that the only valid results they oversee are those of the National Electoral Council (CNE).
Though he has not given a timeframe, Maduro promised to reveal the vote counts. He stated that the US was staging a “farce” and a coup attempt and charged the opposition with creating evidence to contest the election outcomes. “The opposition is presenting fictitious evidence,” Maduro remarked. “This is only an effort to subvert our democratic process.”
Opposition Figures in Hiding and Detained
Machado and González have had great difficulties since the election. After being forbidden from running, Machado was replaced by González. She has been in hiding lately, citing concern for her “life” and “freedom”. González has, meantime, urged national and worldwide demonstrations in favour of “the truth.”
With thousands of demonstrators marching in Venezuela and other Latin American nations, the Venezuelan government has suppressed opposition. According to government figures, more than 2,000 individuals have been arrested; some have been accused of “terrorism.” Among those detained are various opposition leaders, including MarĂa Oropeza, coordinator of campaigns for the alliance Vente Venezuela.
Oropeza captured the moment when Venezuelan military counter-intelligence agency personnel broke through her door, live-streaming her incarceration on Instagram. Loud booms in the footage can be heard as she claims her innocence before the broadcast cuts off suddenly.
Ongoing Dispute and Supreme Court's Role
Along with Ricardo EstĂ©vez, a technical adviser for the same movement as Oropeza, and Freddy Superlano and Roland Carreño, both linked to the opposition party Popular Will, the security forces have also detained González refused to show up before Venezuela’s Supreme Court last week, summoning all presidential contenders for an audit of the disputed vote. González said going would compromise his rights and “the will of the Venezuelan people.”
Aligning with Maduro’s supporters, the Supreme Court said it is still evaluating the election and will render a “final and binding” decision. The current state of affairs has raised tensions, so the result of Venezuela’s presidential election is still being determined and debatable.
