Security forces in Venezuela have fired tear gas and rubber bullets at thousands of protesters who took to the streets of Caracas on Monday evening, contesting the disputed presidential election result. The protests erupted a day after President Nicolás Maduro claimed victory, a declaration that the opposition has called fraudulent.
Massive Turnout and Violent Clashes
Protesters, many of whom walked miles from the slums surrounding the city, descended on central Caracas towards the presidential palace. They chanted “freedom, freedom!” and demanded the fall of the government. A heavy military and police presence aimed to disperse the crowds and prevent them from approaching the presidential palace. Footage showed burning tyres on highways and large numbers of people on the streets as police on motorbikes fired tear gas.
Opposition Claims Victory
The opposition has vehemently disputed President Maduro’s victory, asserting that their candidate, Edmundo González, won the election convincingly with 73.2% of the vote. Opinion polls prior to the election had suggested a clear victory for González, who had the backing of united opposition parties. The opposition’s support stemmed from widespread discontent over the country’s prolonged economic crisis and Maduro’s 11-year tenure.
Escalating Violence
In various parts of the city, protesters ripped down and burned posters of President Maduro, while tyres, cars, and rubbish were also set ablaze. Armed police, military personnel, and government-sympathetic left-wing paramilitaries clashed with protesters and blocked many roads around the city centre. The Venezuelan government announced a temporary suspension of commercial flights to and from Panama and the Dominican Republic starting Wednesday evening.
Maduro’s Address to the Nation
In a televised speech, President Maduro urged the nation to remain calm and patient. “We are all under the obligation to listen to the truth, to gear up with patience, calmness, and strength because we are familiar with this movie and we know how to face these situations and how to defeat the violent,” he stated.
As tensions continue to rise in Caracas, the disputed election results have plunged Venezuela into deeper political turmoil, with the potential for further unrest in the days to come.
