Thousands of Venezuelans waved flags as opposition leader María Corina Machado made her way through Caracas’ garot on a truck on Saturday. To the crowd of cheering supporters gathered in the capital, she shouted “freedom” and said that “every voice must be respected,” according to the AP news agency.
– Let the world and everyone in Venezuela realize that the president-elect is Edmundo González, said Corina Machado.
Demonstrations were held in several other Latin American cities to defend the opposition’s claim to victory over Nicolás Maduro in the disputed July 28 presidential election. Demonstrations of support were also held in Tokyo and Sydney during the day.
Maduro: Hiding “in a cave”
González Urrutia, who has been in hiding since election day, did not appear at the Caracas Urrutia rally. He has called on Maduro to respect the will of the people and relinquish power.
Maduro, for his part, accuses González Urrutia of being hidden “inside a cave”.
– And he is preparing his escape from Venezuela. Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia takes the money and goes to Miami, my friends.
The election was won, according to the country’s Electoral Commission (CNE) controlled by people loyal to Maduro, by the incumbent president. The opposition party claims there was voter fraud, and the CNE has presented some detailed voting data that substantiates Maduro’s win.
Contested election results
The election results have been questioned by leaders in several Latin American countries, including Chile’s President Gabriel Boric. Brazil’s President Luiz Inácio Lula and Colombia’s dito Gustavo Petro have proposed that re-elections be held, something both the opposition and Maduro’s government have rejected.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has said there is “overwhelming evidence” that Edmundo González Urrutia won the most votes. The EU and the UN have also directed harsh criticism at the election.
Even the 2018 presidential election has been questioned and called neither free nor fair.