Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro has threatened to ignite a civil war and blamed the United States for the country's crisis following allegations that he rigged last Sunday's elections. "I will not hesitate to call the people to a revolution with different characteristics," he menacingly declared on national television.
Startled by the growing outrage from Venezuelans after Maduro declared himself the winner of Sunday's elections—despite opposition reports showing he lost by 30 points to candidate Edmundo González—the representative of the chavista regime warned, "We do not want to resort to other forms of making a revolution."
"I say this solemnly from political power, we want to continue on the path that Chávez laid out," he stated, blaming "North American imperialism and fascist criminals" for Venezuela's crisis. He added, "I was not born on the day of cowards" and that "if the empire wants to advance its criminal plan, we will defend our homeland."
The political climate in Venezuela has become increasingly tense following Maduro's declaration as the winner of the presidential elections. On July 29, the National Electoral Council, a chavista authority, announced that Maduro had been re-elected, a result that immediately sparked protests and rejection from the opposition and a significant portion of the population.
Meanwhile, opposition leader María Corina Machado held a press conference asserting that the true winner was Edmundo González. She subsequently published 76 percent of the voting records, which are accessible on a public website. The tally shows Nicolás Maduro received 2,759,256 votes, while González obtained 6,275,182 votes, winning in all states that make up the South American nation.
Understanding Venezuela's Election Crisis
To provide a clearer picture of the current turmoil in Venezuela, here are some frequently asked questions and their answers regarding the recent election controversy.
What led to the current crisis in Venezuela?
The crisis was triggered by allegations of electoral fraud in the recent presidential elections, where opposition figures and a large segment of the population claim that Nicolás Maduro manipulated the results to declare himself the winner.
Who is Edmundo González?
Edmundo González is the opposition candidate who, according to reports and voting records published by the opposition, won the presidential elections by a significant margin, defeating Nicolás Maduro.
How has the international community reacted?
The international community, including various countries and organizations, has largely condemned the alleged electoral fraud and expressed support for the Venezuelan opposition and the call for fair elections.