Thousands of Venezuelans rise up in protest against Maduro’s electoral fraud

Demonstrations in more than 300 cities worldwide, called by the Venezuelan opposition, challenge the re-election of Nicolás Maduro.

In a climate of growing political tension, the Venezuelan opposition, led by Maria Corina Machadohas called for a series of mass demonstrations in Caracas and other cities around the world this Saturday. The protests come as a response to the recent elections in Venezuela, in which Nicolás Maduro was declared the winner by the National Electoral Council (CNE) with 52% of the votes, a result that has been widely rejected by opposition sectors and citizens who denounce electoral fraud.

The opposition, represented by Machado, who has been a leading figure in the fight against Chavismo, has spoken out strongly against the election results. Machado has claimed victory for opposition candidate Edmundo González Urrutia, and has presented copies of more than 80% of the voting records on a website, which she says demonstrate manipulation and fraud perpetrated by the Maduro regime.

In a statement on social media, María Corina Machado said that Saturday will be a “historic day” in which thousands of Venezuelans are expected to mobilize in Caracas and in more than 300 cities around the world to demand truth and transparency in the electoral process.

“Here everyone has to keep up the battle and keep up the strength,” said the former deputy, calling for peaceful resistance and unity against what she described as a repressive and demoralizing regime.

The demonstrations are not limited to Venezuela. In countries such as Spain, Belgium, India and Japan, hundreds of people, both Venezuelan and foreign, have taken to the streets in support of the Venezuelan people. In Brussels, for example, a crowd gathered with banners and slogans calling for the liberation of Venezuela and respect for the popular will.

The Government of Spain, along with 21 other countries, has also requested the immediate publication of all the original minutes of the July 28 elections, and has urged an independent and impartial verification of the results. Margarita Robles, Minister of Defense of Spain, stressed the importance of transparency and clarity in a process that affects not only Venezuela, but the international community as a whole.

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Meanwhile, protests continue to spread across Latin America, with mass gatherings expected in cities such as Buenos Aires, Rio de Janeiro, Santiago de Chile and Lima. Venezuelans abroad are joining the call for truth, in what could become one of the most significant mobilizations in recent times.