– In our hands we have the tally lists that show our victory, said opposition leader Edmundo González in front of a large crowd in Caracas on Monday evening local time.
The opposition disputes the official election results showing that incumbent President Nicolás Maduro won.
– The will that was expressed yesterday through your votes will be respected, said González.
Contrary to election day polls
Several thousand have gathered in the capital’s streets to express their distrust of the election results. The demonstration is largely peaceful, but the police have used tear gas and rubber bullets to break up gatherings, and some have thrown stones at the police.
On Tuesday, a non-governmental organization said that at least one person died after security forces tried to break up the protests.
Electoral authorities claimed on Monday that Maduro won the election with 51.2 percent of the vote, contrary to election day polls that suggested opposition candidate Edmundo González had won.
An advisor for the opposition reports that the police are trying to break into the Argentine embassy. He is in the building together with five others for whom arrest warrants have been issued.
Neighboring countries demand transparency
Several Latin American countries agreed on Monday to demand that Venezuela conduct an independent review of the election results. Venezuela responded by recalling diplomats from seven countries, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs asks them not to interfere.
President Maduro’s response to international criticism is that the opposition is attempting a coup that is fascist and anti-revolutionary.
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2024-07-30 20:02:00
