After a highly controversial election, incumbent Nicolas Maduro was declared president of Venezuela for the third time in a row. Electoral authorities see him as the winner of Sunday’s election, which has raised major international doubts. In the South American crisis country itself, emotions are running high.
At least one person was killed in sometimes violent clashes between protesters and security forces on Monday. According to the head of the NGO Foro Penal, Alfredo Romero, 46 others were arrested.
Tear gas, beatings, shots
The protesters marched to the presidential palace in the capital Caracas. On television, police officers were seen using tear gas and occasionally beating people. Shots were also fired at protesters, the newspaper “El Nacional” reported.
Paramilitaries rage, police do not intervene
The shooters could be so-called colectivos, pro-government paramilitary groups that use violence to enforce the government’s agenda. Videos show police officers doing nothing to attack the protesters.
According to the electoral authority, leftist authoritarian Maduro, in power since 2013, won 51 percent on Sunday, but the opposition also claimed victory. Along with many Latin American countries, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres also called for “absolute transparency.”
The opposition wants proof of its own victory
Opposition leader Maria Corina Machado said the country had “a new elected president”, namely Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia, proposed by her alliance. He received 70 percent of the votes and not 44 percent as announced by the state authorities. The opposition can “prove” its victory; it has access to more than 70 percent of the results lists from the polling stations.
Source: Krone
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