Army stands by Venezuela's Maduro despite opposition
August 6, 2024
The Venezuelan military has rejected calls by the opposition to intervene after President Nicolas Maduro won another term in a contested vote.
Despite unrest following the July 28 presidential vote, the Venezuelan military still stands behind Nicolas MaduroImage: Matias Delacroix/AP Photo/picture alliance
Opposition seeks to 'undermine our unity,' military says
Vladimir Padrino Lopez, Venezuela's defense minister and army head, said the military strongly rejects "the desperate and seditious approaches" that "seek to undermine our unity and institutionality, but will never succeed."
The comments are a rejection of calls coming from the opposition to intervene after the presidential election on July 28, where incumbent Maduro won a third consecutive term against former diplomat Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia.
The opposition has rejected the electoral results, with Western countries such as the US and Germany also not recognizing Maduro's win or expressing skepticism. China, Iran and Russia, however, have lauded Maduro's victory.
A letter released Monday by Gonzalez and opposition figure Maria Corina Machado called on the armed forces "to stand at the side of the people" amid protests and mass arrests in recent days following the election.
Earlier, Machado was considered the top candidate to face off against Maduro in this year's election. In July 2023, she was banned from politics by the comptroller general of Venezuela, which accused her of ties with Juan Guaido, an opposition politician living in exile.
Venezuela's disputed election sparks more protests
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In a message posted on social media platform X on Tuesday, Machado called on the opposition movement to stay resilient amid persistent threats from the Maduro government.
"Fear is not going to paralyze us, we are going to overcome it as we have done until now and we will not leave the streets," she said.
wd/rmt (Reuters, AFP)
Venezuela: Protest and violence after disputed election
Venezuela's Sunday election was fraught with accusations of fraud and counting irregularities. As both candidates claim victory, thousands of protesters are now taking to the streets.
Image: Jesus Vargas/Getty Images
Doubts overshadow the election
In Venezuela's capital Caracas, a lone demonstrator faces members of the National Guard. Protests broke out on Monday, after Nicolas Maduro declared victory in Sunday's election amid accusations of fraud. According to the National Electoral Council, incumbent Maduro received 51.2% of the popular vote, while his challenger Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia received 44.2%, despite leading exit polls.
Image: Alexandre Meneghini/REUTERS
Making their voices heard
Several foreign governments have held off recognizing the election results, which the opposition claims to have won in a landslide. Across the country, thousands have gathered to protest Maduro's grip on power. Shouts of "freedom" and "this government will end" were heard as protester banged pots and pans.
Image: Leonardo Fernandez Viloria/REUTERS
Unpopular head of state
Angry demonstrators tore down election posters for Nicolas Maduro, as seen here in the capital's suburb of Petare. The 61-year-old is unpopular with many voters due to the economic crisis in the country. His power in Venezuela relies heavily on support from the military. About two weeks prior to the election, Maduro had warned of a "bloodbath" if he was not reelected.
Image: RAUL ARBOLEDA/AFP via Getty Images
Taking cover
In the capital, security forces deployed tear gas to disperse crowds of demonstrators, injuring dozens. So far, 132 have been arrested, as the human rights organization Foro Penal announced on Tuesday.
Image: YURI CORTEZ/AFP via Getty Images
Live ammunition
Protests on Monday were largely peaceful, although shots could be heard in Caracas. This citizen collected empty bullet casings as evidence of the violence threatening demonstrators. More protests and widespread unrest are expcted in the coming days.
Image: RAUL ARBOLEDA/AFP via Getty Images
Fighting with fire
This protester in Puerto La Cruz, a coastal city popular with tourists, is moving to avoid a fire caused by a Molotov cocktail hitting the ground. In the electoral dispute, things are also heating up, with Maduro threatening to investigate opposition leaders for hacking electoral systems. Despite claiming victory for Maduro, the National Electoral Council has yet to release the full vote counts.
Image: Samir Aponte/REUTERS
Freedom
Venezuela has been in a political and economic crisis for years. The once prosperous country with rich oil reserves is suffering from mismanagement, corruption and sanctions. According to the UN, more than seven million people have left Venezuela in recent years due to poverty and violence.
