Small groups of opponents gathered in several cities across Venezuela on Saturday to demand the departure of President Nicolás Maduro, two months to the day after his controversial re-election.
Opposition leader María Corina Machado, who lives in hiding after denouncing electoral fraud, called on Venezuelans to come together among neighbors to demonstrate against the third term obtained by Mr. Maduro.
PHOTO PABLO SANHUEZA, REUTERS
Hidalgo Valero explained that this new phase of small neighborhood demonstrations aimed to “reduce the risks” after the “brutal repression” of the protests which followed the July 28 control.
“Venezuela’s freedom is in danger,” retired Colonel Hidalgo Valero told AFP during one of these rallies. “Today, our people are afraid to be on the streets because there is enormous repression,” he added.
He explained that this new phase of small neighborhood demonstrations aimed to “reduce the risks” after the “brutal repression” of the protests which followed the July 28 control. Massive demonstrations then left 27 dead and 192 injured, and around 2,400 people were arrested, according to official sources.
In Caracas, several hundred supporters of Mr. Maduro gathered to claim victory in the presidential election.
In front of his supporters, the Venezuelan president accused Mme Machado for wanting to flee the country. “She is packing her Gucci suitcases […] She is preparing to leave too,” he said.
In an interview with AFP on Friday, Mme Machado had ruled out going into exile, as opposition presidential candidate Edmundo González Urrutia did. “I am where I feel most useful for the struggle, in Venezuela,” she said.
PHOTO JAVIER SORIANO, AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
Edmundo González Urrutia, who took refuge in Spain, made a brief appearance during a demonstration by Venezuelan opponents in Madrid.
Nicolás Maduro, whose victory was validated by the Supreme Court on August 22, was proclaimed winner with 52% of the votes by the National Electoral Council which, however, did not make public the minutes of the polling stations.
According to the opposition, which published the vote count provided by its scrutineers, its candidate Edmundo González Urrutia obtained more than 60% of the votes.
Mr. González Urrutia, who took refuge in Spain, made a brief appearance during a demonstration by Venezuelan opponents in Madrid.