In Venezuela, protests against the re-election of the outgoing president

At least one person was killed in the protests against the re-election of Nicolas Maduro, according to the NGO Foro Penal, which specializes in defending political prisoners. The current Venezuelan head of state, in power for eleven years, won the election on Monday, July 29, with 51% of the votes cast. The opposition did not recognize these results and considers its candidate Edmundo Gonzalez victorious with 70% of the votes. On the part of the Venezuelan population, anger has grown over these results, which no one believes.

The working-class neighborhoods marched on Caracas, in a caravan of motorcycles and pedestrians, to the center of the city where the Miraflores Palace, the seat of government, is located. Thousands of people, many young people in particular, spontaneously came out of their homes to express their frustration with these results. “I am especially very disappointed, we had hoped to get out of all thisexplains Edimar Mondaca. If Edmundo had won, Venezuela would not have been put back on its feet overnight, but there would have been a small hope of change. People have finally opened their eyes. We hope to put an end to all this today or tomorrow, at least this week. We want Maduro to leave power this week.”

The protest gradually grew in size. Residents took to the streets to join the protesters, seeing them from their windows. Clashes broke out with security forces and government paramilitary militias as the caravan advanced through the center of the capital. Shots were fired. This anger could be a turning point in Venezuelan politics. For the first time, working-class neighborhoods are turning against Nicolas Maduro, whom they accuse of electoral fraud.

Venezuela suspends air links with Panama and the Dominican Republic from Wednesday due to the “interference actions”according to the government, of these two countries which have questioned the transparency of the election.