Violent protests have broken out in the capital, Caracas, demanding that the president step down, who claims victory in Sunday’s election.
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At least four people have died and more than 40 others have been injured after protests in Venezuela, according to a count by two NGOs. Thousands of people took to the streets on Monday, July 29, following the announcement of the results of the presidential election. The incumbent president Nicolas Maduro claims his re-election, but the opposition claims otherwise. It guarantees to have won 70% of the votes and to be able “prove” his victory. Residents of working-class neighborhoods in Caracas, the capital, took to the streets in response.
The streets of Caracas are making their anger heard. The sound of pots and pans, posters with Nicolas Maduro’s face burned, slogans calling on the president to relinquish power. The situation is unexpected according to Gaspard Estrada, a political scientist specializing in Venezuela: “What is surprising is the dimension, the scale of these demonstrations. And the fact that they are taking place in territories that were traditionally supported by Chavism.”
The political movement is named after Hugo Chavez, Nicolas Maduro’s predecessor. He is considered the outgoing president’s political role model, but statues of Chavez have been toppled. And even supporters of the former president are contesting his successor.
“GDP has fallen by almost 80% between 2013, when he was first elected, and today.”
Gaspard Estrada, political scientist specializing in Venezuelato franceinfo
According to Gaspard Estrada, these tensions are a sign of the population’s fed-up feeling. “The economic record of the Maduro government is catastrophic, it must be said. There are more than seven million Venezuelans who have left the country. From this point of view, the record is very harsh. Of course, there are also the sanctions that have been applied by the United States against Venezuela.”recalls the political scientist. Faced with this situation, seven Latin American countries have jointly signed a declaration to demand transparency on the results of this presidential election.
