CARACAS: Fresh demonstrations were likely in Venezuela on Tuesday after one person was killed when security forces tried to stop the protests sparked by a disputed election result that gave Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro a third term in power.
Security forces fired rubber bullets and tear gas on Monday at angry protesters challenging the victory claimed by Maduro that was disputed by the opposition and questioned by many other countries around the world.
Thousands of people came on the streets of several neighborhoods in Venezuela’s capital, chanting “Freedom, freedom!” and “This government is going to fall!“
At least two statues of Hugo Chavez, the late socialist leader who led Venezuela for more than a decade were knocked down by the angry protesters.
Alfredo Romero, head of the Foro Penal rights group on social media platform X said that one person died in northwest Yaracuy state and 46 were arrested by the police in post-election demonstrations.
The National Electoral Council (CNE) confirmed the re-election of Maduro, 61, for another six-year term until 2031. Maduro rejected international criticism and doubts about the result of Sunday’s elections, saying Venezuela was the target of an attempted “coup d’etat”.
Opposition leader Maria Corina Machado’s available voting records clearly showed that the next president of the country would be Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia. She added the records showed a “mathematically irreversible” lead for Gonzalez Urrutia, with 6.27 million votes to Maduro’s 2.75 million.
Maduro’s campaign manager Jorge Rodriguez, also called large rallies starting this Tuesday to celebrate the win.
The polls were conducted amid widespread fears of fraud by the government and a campaign tainted by allegations of political intimidation. The CNE on Monday said Maduro had received 51.2 percent of votes cast compared to 44.2 percent for Gonzalez Urrutia.
The United Nations, United States, European Union and several Latin American nations called for a transparent voting process, while allies including China, Cuba and Russia congratulated Maduro.
Nine Latin American countries in a joint statement called for a “complete review of the results with the presence of independent electoral observers.”
Meanwhile, Caracas has announced to withdrawal of diplomatic staff from Argentina, Chile, Costa Rica, Panama, Peru, the Dominican Republic and Uruguay. It also stopped flights to and from Panama and the Dominican Republic.
