The Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado took to the streets of Caracas with her supporters to protest the controversial results of the recent national elections. On Saturday, thousands of people gathered in Venezuela’s capital, waving national flags and singing the national anthem in support of Machado, who many believe won the presidential election by a convincing margin.
“Just as it took us a long time to achieve electoral victory, we have now stepped into a phase that we take day by day. But we have never been as strong as we are today, never,” Machado told her supporters in Caracas.
Venezuela’s electoral authorities, which have faced severe criticism for favoring the ruling party, declared President Nicolas Maduro the winner of last week’s election, indicating that he received 51 percent of the votes compared to 46 percent for opposition candidate Edmundo Gonzalez. This declaration was later confirmed with a similar margin, leading to widespread allegations of electoral fraud and protests.
During the demonstration on Saturday, supporters cheered and sang as Machado arrived at the rally in Caracas. They rushed toward her as she climbed onto a truck to address the enthusiastic crowd. “I am happy to be here with Maria Corina and to support Venezuela in overcoming this terrible injustice,” said 42-year-old Yamilet Rondon, waving a Venezuelan flag.
In addition to Caracas, demonstrations also took place in cities such as Valencia, Maracaibo, and San Cristobal. “I came to this march with some fear, the fear of the oppression we have seen, but this is our fight,” said Susana Martinez, a 42-year-old preschool teacher, at a demonstration in Valencia.
Meanwhile, Maduro urged his supporters to participate in his own “mother of all marches” elsewhere in Caracas. “Today we are here to answer our president’s call … to defend democracy,” said Alfredo Valera, president of Venezuela’s Fontur union, who participated in a pro-government caravan.
The Maduro government has tightened its grip on opposition protests, which they label as part of an alleged U.S.-backed coup attempt. Security forces have arrested hundreds of opposition sympathizers who took to the streets following the disputed elections, and at least 20 individuals have died according to the human rights organization Human Rights Watch.
The Organization of American States (OAS) has previously called for calm. “Today we call for no more political prisoners, no more tortured individuals, no more missing persons, and no more deaths,” stated the OAS, which characterized the election results as unavoidable this week.
Countries including the United States and Argentina have already recognized Gonzalez as the winner of the election, while U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken mentioned “overwhelming evidence” on Thursday. Costa Rica, Ecuador, Panama, and Uruguay also concluded on Friday that Gonzalez received the most votes. Meanwhile, countries such as Russia, China, and Cuba congratulated Maduro on his victory.