Venezuela opposition calls for resistance, Maduro celebrates on election anniversary

Venezuela opposition calls for resistance, Maduro celebrates on election anniversary

Alleging fraud and lack of transparency, Venezuela’s opposition said Gonzalez Urrutia – not Nicolas Maduro – won the election.

Nicolas-Maduro-AP
Nicolas Maduro slapped back at criticism, saying Venezuela wants to move forward on the path of unity. (AP pic)
CARACAS:
Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado called Monday for “clandestine” resistance against President Nicolas Maduro on the anniversary of his disputed re-election.

Electoral authorities declared Maduro the winner of the July 2024 election despite allegations of fraud and without releasing a detailed breakdown of voting results.

The Venezuelan opposition says their candidate Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia is the true winner. The ex-diplomat fled into exile after the election, while Machado – who was barred from standing in the election – has gone into hiding.

Speaking in a social media video, Machado accused Maduro of being “so afraid of being invaded” and overthrown but said millions of people already in Venezuela will remove him from power.

Venezuelan authorities frequently accuse Machado of leading conspiracies against Maduro.

Nearly 1,000 leaders, including from Machado’s closest circle, have been detained since the election.

Machado called for “the clandestine organisation of all structures within Venezuela” to disobey tyranny and prepare for civic action “when the time comes”.

Her opposition group had called for a boycott of the May 25 parliamentary and gubernatorial elections, as well as mayoral elections held last weekend.

Maduro’s party won handily in both contests, and he gathered outside the presidential palace Miraflores to celebrate the wins on Monday.

Maduro slapped back at criticism.

“Enough of fascism, no more conspiracies, no more calls for foreign interventions, no more economic war, enough of fascism, enough of violence. Venezuela wants work, prosperity and to move forward on the path of unity,” Maduro said.

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