Tensions rise in Venezuela: The opposition will mobilize today, Saturday, throughout the country to reject Maduro’s electoral fraud

Both Maduro and the opposition, led by Maria Corina Machado and its presidential candidate Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutiacalled on their supporters to demonstrate this weekend in response to Sunday’s controversial vote.

“We are all meeting with our families, with our children, grandchildren, grandparents in all the cities of Venezuela (…) because we are going to pay tribute to each one of those heroes who asserted and defended the will of the Venezuelans and who are now being persecuted by the regime,” said the former deputy,

“Now we are going to get paid, so we must remain firm, organized and mobilized, with the pride of having achieved a historic victory on July 28 and the awareness that to get paid we will also go all the way.“, held.

However, the dictator Maduro seeks to avoid a large mobilization of the opposition, so ordered to “surround” the country’s capital“I have given the order to protect the city of Caracas, I have given the precise orders for the Intelligence Forces and the police to protect Greater Caracas,” he announced on Friday night, hours before the national march. An announcement that raises fears, once again, of a violent response from the regime’s security forces.

He National Electoral Council The Chavista-controlled National Electoral Council (CNE) declared Maduro the winner with 52% of the votes, while González Urrutia obtained 43%.

However, countries like Argentina, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Panama and Uruguay They have recognized González Urrutia as the true president-elect, joining United States and Peru in the rejection of the official results.

“Now we are going to get paid, so we must remain firm, organized and mobilized, with the pride of having achieved a historic victory on July 28,” said Venezuelan leader María Corina Machado (EFE/ Ronald Peña R)

Maduro, 61, has responded harshly to the criticism, calling the allegations of electoral fraud a “trap” orchestrated by Washington to justify “a coup”. He has also threatened Machado and González Urrutia, stating that “should be behind bars”.

Maduro has ruled the country since 2013, presiding over a GDP drop of 80%which has led to more than Seven million Venezuelans to emigrate.

González Urrutia did not attend a hearing in the Supreme justice court after Maduro asked the court to investigate and certify the election result. However, other opposition candidates present at the hearing demanded a detailed vote count following Sunday’s election, which was held amid fears of manipulation.

“Electoral records are essential for transparency and peace“ said Enrique Marquez, who also ran against Maduro as part of a smaller opposition group. The opposition launched a website with copies of the 84% of the ballots issuedwhich show a clear victory for González Urrutia, while the government claims that they are falsifications.

Machado, who was banned from running for office, wrote in The Wall Street Journal who is in hiding and “fearing for her life,” along with other opposition leaders.

Machado, who was barred from running for office, wrote in The Wall Street Journal that she is in hiding and “fearing for her life,” along with other opposition leaders (EFE/ Henry Chirinos)

He called on his supporters to demonstrate this Saturday in cities across the country to “affirm the truth” about the opposition victory.We have the evidence and the world already recognizes it“, wrote Machado in X.

Maduro has called for daily protests, culminating in “the mother of all marches to celebrate the victory of peace” on Saturday. He accused the opposition of planning attacks against security forces during his demonstrations.

The NGO Penal Forum reported 11 dead in protests on Monday and Tuesday, as Venezuelans took to the streets denouncing that their vote had been stolen. Machado said that at least 20 people had died.

Authorities reported that more than 1,000 people were arrested in post-election protests, sparking fear among opposition supporters.

“We have dead, wounded, detained, missing… People know it. They are afraid. They know they are going to encounter armed people.“said Katiusca Camargo, an activist from the Petare neighborhood.

US Secretary of State, Antony Blinkensaid Thursday that there was “overwhelming evidence” that González Urrutia had won the elections. Blinken spoke with Machado and González Urrutia on Friday, expressing “his concern for their safety and well-being” and congratulating González Urrutia “for receiving the largest number of votes,” according to the State Department.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Thursday that there was “overwhelming evidence” that González Urrutia had won the election (EFE/EPA/MICHAEL REYNOLDS)

In a joint statement, Brazil, Colombia and Mexico They called for an “impartial verification” of the result and asked Caracas to publish voting data broken down by polling station.