CARACAS — Thousands of Venezuelans marched across the South American country on Saturday over its contested election, as President Nicolas Maduro told supporters some 2,000 people had been arrested during protests against the results.
Venezuela’s electoral authority, blasted by critics as favoring the ruling socialists, proclaimed Maduro the winner in last Sunday’s vote, saying on Monday he obtained 51% compared to 46% for opposition candidate Edmundo Gonzalez. The authority reaffirmed a similar margin on Friday.
The published election result sparked widespread allegations of fraud and protests. Subsequently security forces cracked down on protests which Maduro’s government labeled part of an attempted U.S.-backed coup.
Opposition supporters attend a march amid the disputed presidential election, in Caracas, Venezuela August 3, 2024. REUTERS/Fausto Torrealba
“This time there will be no forgiveness,” Maduro told supporters at a rally in Caracas, where he said some 2,000 people had been detained in connection to “crimes” during the protests. He pledged “maximum punishment.”
Maduro’s supporters said they were defending democracy.
“Today we are here heeding the call of our president … to defend democracy,” Alfredo Valera, president of Venezuela’s Fontur union, who took part in a pro-government caravan in Caracas, told state television.
Elsewhere, opposition supporters marched to demand justice, buoyed by the presence of leader Maria Corina Machado, who emerged from hiding on Saturday to join her demonstrations on the streets of Caracas.
Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado addresses supporters during a march amid the disputed presidential election in Caracas, Venezuela August 3, 2024. REUTERS/Fausto Torrealba
“Just as it took us a long time to achieve electoral victory, now comes a stage that we take day by day, but we have never been as strong as today, never,” Machado told supporters in Caracas.
Supporters were happy to see Machado in the streets after the leader said in a Thursday op-ed for the Wall Street Journal that she was in hiding and feared for her life.
In addition to Caracas, demonstrations took place in cities including Valencia, Maracaibo and San Cristobal.
“I don’t deny it’s a little scary to see security forces pass by,” said vendor Maria Luzardo, 46, in San Cristobal. “If (Machado) is brave enough to be on the streets despite the threats, so are we. Venezuela is calling us.”
Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado waves to supporters during a march amid the disputed presidential election, in Caracas, Venezuela August 3, 2024. REUTERS/Fausto Torrealba
So far, at least 20 people have been killed in post-election protests, according to advocacy groups, including U.S.-based Human Rights Watch. Some 1,200 others have been arrested in connection with the demonstrations, according to the government.
During the week, some Venezuelans have appeared outside police stations seeking news of their detained family members.
The Organization of American States urged peace in Venezuela ahead of the planned demonstrations.
“Today we urge that there not be one more political prisoner, nor one more tortured person, nor one more disappeared person, nor one more murdered person,” said the OAS, which this week called the election results unreliable.
Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado waves to supporters during a march amid the disputed presidential election, in Caracas, Venezuela August 3, 2024. REUTERS/Fausto Torrealba
Nations including the U.S. and Argentina have already recognized Gonzalez as the election’s winner, with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Thursday citing “overwhelming evidence.” Costa Rica, Ecuador, Panama and Uruguay also concluded on Friday that Gonzalez received the most votes.
Others, including Russia, China and Cuba, have congratulated Maduro.
By REUTERS
Reporting by Mircely Guanipa and Vivian Sequera in Caracas Additional reporting by Tibisay Romero in Valencia and Tathiana Ortiz in San Cristobal Writing by Oliver Griffin Editing by Nick Zieminski and David Gregorio
Vivian Sequera reports on politics and general news from Venezuela’s capital, Caracas. She is interested in reporting on how Venezuela’s long economic crisis, with its rampant inflation, has affected human rights, health and the Venezuelan people, among other topics. She previously worked for the Associated Press in Venezuela, Colombia, Cuba and Brazil.
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People carry Venezuela’s national flag to protest the election results that awarded Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro with a third term, in Maracaibo, Venezuela July 30, 2024. REUTERS/Isaac Urrutia