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In the heart of Caracas, demonstrators confronted a heavy haze of tear gas as members of the armed forces advanced towards them. Panic ensued as some protesters fled, only to find another line of soldiers equipped with shields and firearms directly behind them.
Amidst the chaos, shots rang out, and a young woman dropped to the ground pleading, “Don’t shoot me.” The sounds of gunfire—indeterminate whether rubber bullets or live rounds—dispersed the remaining protestors.
Across Venezuela, countless citizens gathered in Chacaito to voice their outrage over what they perceive as the manipulation of the electoral process.
On Monday, Nicolás Maduro was declared the victor of his third consecutive six-year term by the election authority, which operates under government control. An ally of Maduro announced that he had received 51% of the votes, while his competitor garnered 44%.
Swiftly, allegations of profound electoral fraud surfaced. Opposition parties asserted they could demonstrate that Edmundo González Urrutia, a former diplomat and Maduro’s rival, achieved at least double the votes claimed for the incumbent.
Maria Corina Machado, a prominent opposition figure barred from participating in the election, declared, “Venezuela has a new president-elect and it’s Edmundo González.”
Public sentiment was largely skeptical regarding the fairness of the election; pre-election polls indicated that Maduro was trailing significantly behind the opposition candidate.
Under Maduro’s leadership, the country’s economy has deteriorated, with a staggering 80% reduction in GDP over the last decade. Approximately one-third of the Venezuelan population has left the country, and both the United States and European Union have imposed sanctions.
In the wake of the election results, cacophonous banging of pots and pans echoed through the streets. In Petare, a impoverished district in Caracas, protesters marched towards the presidential palace, some destroying images of Maduro as they passed by, a clear signal of their discontent.
This neighborhood, traditionally a bastion of support for Maduro, has shifted as residents express their disillusionment with a regime that has consistently delivered hardship and oppression.
“He’s useless. He’s brought hunger to the people of this country, so much hunger,” a young male protester lamented while joining the throngs on the street.
Across the nation, demonstrators have destroyed at least five statues of the former president Hugo Chavez, once revered as a hero but now seen as a symbol of unfulfilled promises.
In Caracas, clashes intensified as opposition supporters threw stones at law enforcement, who retaliated with tear gas and rubber bullets. Social media footage depicted groups of radical Maduro supporters, known as colectivos, reportedly firing upon protesters.
As of Tuesday, reports indicated that at least four fatalities had occurred amid the unrest, with many others injured.
Freddy Superlano, a key member of the opposition coalition, was seen being forcibly taken away by government officials, an incident documented by video evidence.
Protest chants shifted from “he’s going to fall” to exultant declarations that “he has fallen.” For many, the election outcome was evident: Edmundo González had won their support.
“Edmundo is our president,” asserted Guillermo Delgado, an opposition backer. “We feel cheated by the government, because they want to cover our eyes and deceive us into believing we got fewer votes. Venezuela and the whole world see that González Urrutia won.”
International condemnation of the Maduro regime has been prevalent, with calls for the electoral authority to release comprehensive and transparent results.
The fallout from the election has strained Venezuela’s diplomatic relations, with Panama announcing a withdrawal of its diplomatic staff, while Venezuela cut ties with Argentina, Peru, and Chile in light of their critiques.
Despite the escalating tensions, the military has publicly reaffirmed its loyalty to Maduro, a move that could stabilize his regime amidst the mounting opposition.
Some individuals, like Reuben and Karolina, admitted to casting their votes in favor of Maduro, seeking to preserve Chavez’s legacy. However, even they recognized the shortcomings of the revolution. “Maduro is trapped because there are extremists on one side, but there are corrupt people on [his] side,” observed Reuben.
For others, despair has taken hold. Jorg Salcedo, 23, expressed his intent to join the millions who have fled Venezuela, stating, “The vote was our last chance,” as tears streamed down his face.
Source
www.yahoo.com