Venezuela opposition leader calls for worldwide protests on August 17

In a video on social media, Maria Corina Machado called for support for the opposition’s claimed election victory over President Maduro

Reading Time:1 minute

Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado, right, raises the arm of opposition presidential candidate Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia in Caracas on July 28. Photo: AFP / Getty Images / TNS

Published: 7:14am, 12 Aug 2024

Venezuela’s opposition called for worldwide protests on August 17 to show support for its claimed victory in last month’s election over President Nicolas Maduro, who was declared the winner.

“This Saturday, August 17, we will take to the streets of Venezuela and the world … let’s shout together so that the world supports our victory and recognises the truth and popular sovereignty,” said opposition leader Maria Corina Machado in a video on social media.

Opposition candidate Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia, who replaced Machado on the ballot after she was banned from running, said separately: “We won, Venezuela won ... see you on the 17th.”

A child holds a Venezuelan flag and a sign that reads “freedom” as people march to protest against election results that awarded Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro a third term, in Mexico City, Mexico on Saturday. Photo: Reuters

Both leaders have been in hiding for more than a week, with Machado saying recently that she feared for her life, as several other members of the Venezuelan opposition have been reportedly whisked away with no warning.

Electoral authorities declared Maduro the winner of the July 28 vote with 52 per cent, but have yet to release a detailed breakdown of the results.

The opposition, in contrast, published printed tallies – the legitimacy of which has been denied by Maduro but backed by the United States and several Latin American countries.

Those results show Gonzalez Urrutia receiving 67 per cent of the vote.