Venezuelan opposition leader calls for protests over July 28 elections results

Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado urged citizens to participate in mass protests on Aug. 17 to challenge the results of the July 28 presidential election.

Machado accused the National Electoral Council of fraud in statements to the media, claiming that her party’s candidate, Edmundo Gonzalez, won with 67% of the vote.

She vowed to continue the fight against what she described as an authoritarian regime, insisting that the opposition would not allow the election it believes it won to be stolen.

Venezuelan opposition leader calls for protests over July 28 elections results — CARACAS, VENEZUELA – JULY 29: People gather to protest against reelection of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro for the 3rd term one day after the Venezuelan presidential elections in Caracas, Venezuela on July 29, 2024. Opposition supporters questioned electoral victory claimed by Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. ( Pedro Rances Mattey – Anadolu Agency )

“This coming Saturday, Aug. 17, Venezuelans will unite from all over the world to raise our voices for the truth: on July 28, #VenezuelaWon,” she wrote on X. “Let the world see, with the records in hand, that we will not let them steal our victory.”

“We won, everyone knows it, and we have the records to prove it,” said Machado.

Venezuela’s National Electoral Council announced on July 29 that President Nicolás Maduro had secured a third term with 51.2% of the vote – a result rejected by González and Machado.