- Prosecutors in Venezuela investigate opposition leader
The political thriller in Venezuela continues: Nicolás Maduro and his challenger Edmundo González Urrutia are locked in a power struggle. The opposition has claimed victory and called on the army to disregard the government's orders. "We urge you to stop the regime's brutality against the people and respect and enforce the results of the July 28 elections," the opposition said on the X platform. They called the "illegal orders" to be ignored and the sovereignty of the people to be recognized. The army is Nicolás Maduro's main support.
In recent days, numerous people in the South American country have protested against what they see as a manipulated election. Security forces have cracked down hard, with at least eleven people killed so far, according to the independent organization Foro Penal.
Now, the prosecutor's office is investigating 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 inciting rebellion, the pro-government agency said.
Opposition has Venezuelans on its side – Maduro has the institutions
The opposition accuses the government of election fraud and claims victory for its candidate Edmundo González Urrutia, whom it has also declared the new president. According to their own statements, the government opponents have detailed results lists from more than 80 percent of the voting districts. According to these, González would have received 67 percent of the votes and Maduro only 30 percent.
The loyal election authority 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 voting districts.
Maduro annoyed by criticism of election results
Meanwhile, the international community is watching Venezuela with skepticism. Several countries, including the USA, Peru, and Argentina, have recognized opposition candidate Edmundo González Urrutia as the new head of state of Venezuela. The EU has not done so yet, but also does not want to recognize Maduro's re-election. The reason: The loyal election authority CNE has not yet disclosed the detailed results of the individual voting districts. Any attempt to delay the full publication of the official election results will only further question their credibility, the EU statement said. Several countries already doubt the official election result.
The Venezuelan government rejected the statement from Brussels. "Josep Borrell, stay out of Venezuela's affairs. Have some respect and be quiet," Foreign Minister Yvan Gil wrote on X. "This people fought for its independence with blood and fire. Your fascist puppets will never return to power."
Maduro's re-election in 2018 was not recognized by many countries. At the time, the then parliamentary president Juan Guaidó declared himself interim president. The USA, Germany, and other countries recognized him, but he could not assert himself in the country – above all because the military stood behind Maduro. Even now, the armed forces have again pledged their loyalty to him.
The opposition has appointed Edmundo González Urrutia as their new president and the Leader of the Opposition, who is also a government critic, is facing accusations of forming a criminal organization by the pro-government agency.
Despite several countries recognizing Opposition leader Edmundo González Urrutia as the new head of state, the loyal election authority in Venezuela has not yet published the detailed results of the individual voting districts, further questioning the credibility of Maduro's re-election and the election results as a whole.
