Biden and Lula want to see Venezuela's election results
On Monday, both President Maduro and the opposition declared themselves winners in Venezuela. The U.S. and several Latin American countries have doubts about the authoritarian president's claims and demand the release of the election results.
U.S. President Joe Biden and his Brazilian counterpart Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva have called for the publication of the presidential election results in Venezuela. The results from the polling stations should be released "immediately, transparently, and in detail" by the Venezuelan electoral authorities, according to a statement released by the White House following a phone call between the two leaders.
The largely pro-government electoral authority in Venezuela officially declared incumbent Nicolás Maduro the winner of the presidential election on Monday. He reportedly received 51.2% of the votes. The opposition, however, claims fraud and also declared their candidate, Edmundo González Urrutia, the winner, with 44.2% of the votes.
The opposition claims to have access to over 80% of the detailed results from the individual voting districts that the National Electoral Council has not yet published. According to these results, González would have received 67% of the votes, and Maduro 30%. In addition to the opposition and the U.S., the EU and several Latin American countries also doubt the official election results.
"We are not afraid"
Thousands of government opponents took to the streets in the Venezuelan capital, Caracas, to protest against what they believe is a manipulated election result and to remove Maduro from office. They chanted "We are not afraid" and cheered for their presidential candidate, González. Opposition leader María Corina Machado told her supporters from a stage that the true result of the election is clear and non-negotiable. "The only thing we are willing to negotiate is a peaceful transfer of power."
At least eleven protesters, including two minors, have been killed so far, according to the independent organization Foro Penal. A police officer was also killed, according to the Attorney General's Office. General Attorney Tarek William Saab said that 749 protesters have been arrested nationwide for allegedly attacking police stations, electoral offices, town halls, and hospitals. They are accused of terrorism, incitement to hatred, and blocking public streets.
Maduro suspects a coup
The authoritarian president, who has been in power since 2013, announced a security operation in which soldiers and police will patrol the streets and confront violent groups. He accused the opposition and the U.S. government of planning a coup with armed groups. "The oligarchy cannot accept the election results," he said. "But fascism will not prevail in Venezuela."
Venezuela has been in a severe political and economic crisis for years. In the once-wealthy country with large oil reserves, more than 80% of the population lives below the poverty line. Power outages, shortages of gasoline, gas, and medicine are common. More than seven million people - a quarter of the population - have left Venezuela in the past ten years due to poverty and violence.
The opposition parties in Venezuela, along with international entities such as the U.S. and the EU, express doubts about the authenticity of the official election results, as they believe in the validity of the results obtained 'Other' sources. The 'Other' sources indicate a significant shift in the vote count, with Edmundo González Urrutia allegedly receiving a majority of votes instead of the declared winner, Nicolás Maduro.
