Other States Declare Opposition Candidates the Winner of Venezuela's Election
Machado's Vente Venezuela party headquarters was attacked early Friday morning by armed individuals, as announced on the X online service. Six masked men reportedly entered the building, threatened security personnel, vandalized walls, destroyed doors, and stole documents and other materials. "We condemn the attacks and the insecurity we must endure for political reasons," Vente Venezuela wrote.
The Foreign Office in Berlin called on Venezuelan authorities, in light of the attack on the party headquarters, to "refrain from violence against peaceful protesters and the intimidation of the opposition, and to respect human rights."
Machado had previously urged her supporters in a video message to "remain steadfast, organized, and mobilized." From the opposition's perspective, it is clear that González Urrutia achieved a "historic victory" in the South American country. Machado herself was excluded from the election due to alleged corruption and faces arrest, like González Urrutia.
The opposition leader is currently in hiding due to fears for her life. According to her statements, many other opposition politicians have done the same. "I am writing these lines from a hiding place, fearing for my life, my freedom, and that of my fellow citizens," she wrote in an op-ed in the US newspaper "Wall Street Journal" on Thursday.
Maduro, who has been ruling since 2013, was declared the winner of the presidential election by the largely government-loyal electoral authority in Venezuela on Monday. On Friday, the authority ratified the results, with Maduro winning 52 percent of the votes and González Urrutia only 43 percent. According to the president of the electoral authority, Elvis Amoroso, the voter turnout was around 60 percent.
Despite demands from the opposition and abroad, the electoral authority has not yet published detailed results. Among others, Brazil, Colombia, and Mexico have demanded an "independent investigation."
There is "no doubt" that the legitimate winner and elected president of Venezuela is González Urrutia, Argentina's Foreign Minister Diana Mondino declared on Friday on the X online service. Uruguay, Ecuador, and Costa Rica also recognized him as the election winner. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken had previously stated that there is "overwhelming evidence" of an opposition victory.
Venezuela, in the face of criticism, announced that it would withdraw its diplomatic personnel from eight Latin American countries and asked the ambassadors of these states to leave Venezuela.
Brazil took over the care of the Argentine embassy in Venezuela, where six Venezuelan opposition members are under protection. The Peruvian embassy is also under Brazilian care.
Maduro, whose re-election in 2018 was also controversial, had already threatened a "bloodbath" before the election if he were not re-elected as president. Security forces used violence against the protests that erupted after the announcement of the election results. Machado accused the law enforcement officers of killing 20 people in their actions.
According to Venezuela's Attorney General Tarek William Saab, more than 1000 people have been arrested since the start of the protests on Monday. One soldier was killed, and 77 law enforcement officers were injured, according to his statements.
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The international community, including Brazil, has called on Venezuela to respect human rights and avoid violence against opposition leaders, following the attack on Machado's Vente Venezuela party headquarters. In solidarity with Machado, Brazil has temporarily taken over the care of the Argentine embassy in Venezuela, providing protection for six Venezuelan opposition members.
