Advertisement

Rallies and arrests in Venezuela mark a month since disputed presidential election

Small protests in support of the opposition take place in various cities as pro-government rally is held in Caracas

Reading Time:2 minutes
Why you can trust SCMP
Maria Corina Machado, centre, leads a protest against the re-election of President Nicolas Maduro in Caracas, Venezuela. Photo: AP

Supporters of Venezuela’s political opposition and backers of the ruling party each held rallies on Wednesday to mark the one-month anniversary of July’s disputed presidential election, as arrests of opposition figures continued.

Advertisement

Venezuela’s electoral council and its top court have proclaimed President Nicolas Maduro, in power since 2013, as the winner of the July 28 election, but has not published complete voting tallies.

Venezuela’s opposition has published its own tallies showing a landslide win for its candidate Edmundo Gonzalez.

The disagreement has sparked international calls for the release of full tallies, deadly protests, and moves by authorities to arrest opposition figures and journalists.

Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado holds up a copy of electoral records in Caracas. Photo: Reuters
Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado holds up a copy of electoral records in Caracas. Photo: Reuters

Opposition leader Maria Corina Machado told Reuters on Tuesday that peaceful street protests and international pressure still have the potential to unseat Maduro.

Advertisement
Advertisement