Venezuelan capital plunged into chaos after contested election

Violent protests erupted in the Venezuelan capital, Caracas, and other major cities after the results of Sunday’s presidential election were announced. The electoral commission declared Nicolás Maduro the winner, while the Venezuelan opposition claims its candidate, Edmundo González, won. Observers believe that these were not democratic elections.

The country was thrown into turmoil following the announcement of the election results for the office of president in Venezuela. Angry citizens took to the streets on Monday. Non-governmental organisations report that at least 11 people were killed and dozens were injured due to violence during the protests.

Opponents of the Maduro regime marched through Caracas, heading for the presidential palace. Heavily armed police repelled them with tear gas and barricades of shields and batons. Occasionally, the roles reversed, and soldiers of the National Guard fled down the streets from the enraged crowd.

The government condemned the protests as an attempt at a "coup d'état," reacting to the news that Maduro had won a third term, garnering 51% of the votes and extending a quarter-century of socialist rule.

Nicolás Maduro contends he can present evidence of his electoral advantage. However, by Thursday, he had not done so, claiming a hacking attempt on the electoral commission’s website prevented this.

Maduro also asserts he has "proof" that opposition leader María Corina Machado orchestrated the "violence." He stressed that the protesters were violating the constitution. He appealed to the Supreme Court to take actions that could pave the way for mass arrests of opposition activists and protesters.

According to AFP, the chief U.S. diplomat in Latin America, Brian Nichols, stated that the evidence indicates President Maduro lost.

"The compilation of detailed results clearly and unequivocally shows that Edmundo González won, receiving 67% of the votes, while Maduro received 30%," he said at a meeting of the Organisation of American States (OAS).

On Wednesday, the American Carter Center, invited by Venezuelan officials to monitor Sunday’s presidential election, announced that it could not "verify" nor confirm the election results announced by the CNE. The Centre also stated that the lack of transparency in the detailed results from individual polling stations "electoral process did not meet international standards of electoral integrity."

President Maduro frequently cites a statement by the Carter Centre’s founder, former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, who said in 2012, "As a matter of fact, of the 92 elections that we've monitored, I would say the election process in Venezuela is the best in the world." This time, there are serious doubts about the results.

According to Venezuela's Attorney General, over 1,000 people have been arrested in the riots. He also reported that two members of the security forces were killed during the protests.

On Wednesday, President Maduro told the media that Machado and González "should be behind bars". Costa Rica's foreign minister proposed political asylum for the pair, but the opposition leader refused, explaining that her "duty is to continue this fight with the people."

On social media late Wednesday evening, Machado called on her supporters to "mobilise." She wrote on X: "It’s time to trust each other. Remain active and determined. Winning takes time; now, it's time to gather," - she urged.

Maduro said that his government had contacted both China and Russia for help regarding the alleged attacks on electoral authorities' systems. Venezuela's Minister of Defence, General Vladimir Padrino, stated that "a coup is underway" but emphasised that the country's armed forces will help to defeat it.

The 61-year-old president is a former union leader and foreign minister. He won the election after the death of former President Hugo Chávez in 2013. The opposition claimed the 2018 election was rigged.

Maduro’s victory may lead to further migration from Venezuela. Once the wealthiest country on the continent, Venezuela has already seen one-third of its population emigrate.