Venezuelans have taken to the streets in large numbers once again, continuing their protest against President Nicolás Maduro. The demonstrations are fueled by allegations that Maduro attempted to rig last week’s election and a growing crackdown on opposition supporters.
Maduro announced that 2,000 people had been arrested in connection with the unrest and vowed they would face “maximum punishment.” Despite this, tens of thousands of protesters gathered in Caracas on Saturday, packing a major avenue to hear from María Corina Machado, the opposition leader who claims her candidate, Edmundo González, won the July 28 vote.
What did Machado say?
“Today is a very important day. After six days of brutal repression they thought they would silence us, frighten us and paralyse us … [But] we are going to go all the way,” Machado declared to a sea of supporters waving Venezuela’s tricolor flag and holding signs denouncing Maduro’s regime. The crowd responded with chants of, “We are not afraid!”
Here is what else you need to know
González’s victory claim has been acknowledged by several countries, including the US, Argentina, Uruguay, and Peru. More importantly, even left-wing governments in Brazil and Colombia, historically aligned with Maduro’s political movement, have not yet accepted his (Maduro’s) win. On the other hand, China and Russia have supported Maduro.
On Saturday, Caracas residents from all walks of life protested, demanding an end to Maduro’s 11-year presidency. The president’s tenure has seen Venezuela descend into a severe economic and humanitarian crisis, prompting millions to flee the country.
The protests occurred despite a heavy-handed response from security forces, which has resulted in hundreds of arrests on terrorism charges and at least 11 fatalities. The ongoing demonstrations underscore the deepening unrest and dissatisfaction with Maduro’s government amidst Venezuela’s ongoing crisis.
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