Maduro is using the prosecution to track down opposition leaders
Following the controversial presidential election, Venezuela's authoritarian leadership is now taking legal action against its opponents. Opposition politicians had called on police and military to disobey orders. Now, the counter-strike is coming.
In the power struggle following the presidential election in Venezuela, which was overshadowed by allegations of fraud, the Attorney General's Office has initiated investigations against opposition leader María Corina Machado and the government-critical candidate Edmundo González Urrutia. They are accused of forming a criminal organization, conspiracy, usurpation of office, and incitement to rebellion, the government-loyal agency announced.
In the face of the harsh crackdown by security forces against protesters, González and Machado called on soldiers and police to side with the people and no longer follow the orders of the incumbent government. "We urge you to stop the regime's brutality against the people and respect and uphold the results of the July 28 elections," their open letter read.
In recent days, thousands of people in the South American country have demonstrated against what they believe was a rigged election. The state responded forcefully: At least eleven people were killed, according to the independent organization Foro Penal, and hundreds were arrested. The loyalist election commission has officially declared the authoritarian President Nicolás Maduro, who has been in power since 2013, the winner of the election. However, it has not yet published the detailed results of the individual polling stations. The opposition accuses the government of election fraud and claims victory for their candidate González.
The USA and half a dozen Latin American countries have already recognized González as the winner. The European Union will not recognize the official result until the election records are fully disclosed. Numerous countries in the region have also expressed significant doubts about the official election result.
The Commission, which is the European Union, has stated that they will not recognize the official result of the Venezuelan election until the election records are fully disclosed. In response to the calls from opposition politicians González and Machado, The Commission urges the military and police to respect and uphold the results of the July 28 elections and stop the regime's brutality against the people.
