Venezuelan Opposition Leader Calls for Mass Demonstrations
Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado has urged citizens to participate in mass demonstrations scheduled for August 17, asserting that the opposition has achieved a significant victory in the recent presidential elections. Despite outgoing President Nicolas Maduro being declared the winner with 52% of the votes, Machado, who has been in hiding, insists on the need for the world to recognize the truth and the sovereignty of the Venezuelan people. She stated, "On Saturday, August 17, we will take to the streets of Venezuela and the world to declare our victory and demand that the world recognize the truth and popular sovereignty."
Opposition Claims Electoral Fraud Amid Violence
Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia, the opposition presidential candidate who replaced Machado, has echoed her sentiments, claiming that the opposition rightfully won the elections. He called on President Maduro to cease the violence and arbitrary arrests that have surged since the election results were announced. Urrutia emphasized that peaceful demonstrations are a constitutional right and denounced the government's actions as crimes against the will of the Venezuelan people. The unrest following the elections has reportedly resulted in 24 deaths, raising concerns among human rights organizations regarding the escalating violence.
International Community Responds to Venezuelan Crisis
In light of the turmoil, the international community, including the United States and the European Union, has expressed concern over the situation in Venezuela. The White House is exploring options to pressure Maduro into recognizing the election results, while EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell emphasized the necessity of respecting the will of the Venezuelan people to restore democracy. The opposition has launched a campaign to challenge the official results, claiming to have evidence showing their candidate winning with 67% of the votes, a claim the government has dismissed as forgery.
