Venezuelan protesters took to the streets of Caracas on Wednesday, marking the latest effort to challenge President Nicolas Maduro’s disputed election victory. The opposition group, led by Maria Corina Machado and Edmundo González, claims that González was the true winner of the presidential election, and has presented evidence to support their allegations.
The protest, which comes one month after the election, is part of a broader campaign to keep alive the opposition’s hopes of overturning Maduro’s victory. Machado and González have participated in numerous demonstrations since July 28, seeking to draw attention to their claims of a stolen election. The opposition group has also received widespread international condemnation, including a statement signed by 21 countries, including the United States.
Despite the international pressure, Maduro remains firmly in power, and his authoritarian regime has forced Machado and González to go into hiding at times. However, the two opposition leaders have selectively emerged from hiding to participate in demonstrations, including Wednesday’s protest.
Machado addressed the crowd from a truck equipped with a sound system, saying “those who say the passage of time favors Maduro are wrong. Every day he’s more isolated, more toxic.” The crowd chanted “freedom” as Machado spoke, and the protest was marked by a sense of determination and defiance.
Maduro’s supporters, however, have pushed back against the opposition’s claims, arguing that the president is the rightful winner of the election. They have accused the opposition of seeking to cause chaos and civil unrest, and have vowed to defend Maduro’s presidency.
In response to the opposition’s protests, Maduro has sought to reinforce his power by appointing Diosdado Cabello as the country’s new interior minister. Cabello is known for his hard-line stance and has promised to show “no mercy” to Maduro’s dissidents. The appointment is seen as a move to further consolidate Maduro’s power and suppress opposition.
Machado acknowledged the challenges posed by Maduro’s authoritarianism, but vowed to continue her fight. She expressed hope that a combination of civil unrest and international pressure would eventually lead to Maduro’s removal.
