Anarchy in Venezuela: Election Rigging Claims

News Today: Anarchy and Chaos in Venezuela as Election Rigging Claims Emerge

Security forces in Venezuela fired tear gas and rubber bullets at protesters disputing Sunday’s election result. Thousands marched on central Caracas, many from slums, towards the presidential palace after President Nicolás Maduro claimed victory. The opposition, led by Edmundo González, alleged fraud, claiming González won with 73.2% of the vote. Western and Latin American countries, along with the UN, have urged Venezuelan authorities to release voting records.

Heavy military and police presence, including water cannons, aimed to disperse protesters chanting “Freedom, freedom!” and calling for the government to fall. Footage showed burning tyres and large crowds clashing with police firing tear gas. Posters of President Maduro were ripped down and set ablaze. Armed police, military, and left-wing paramilitaries blocked many roads.

Protesters in La Lucha voiced their frustration. Paola Sarzalejo, 41, called the vote “fraud,” and her father Miguel, 64, lamented the country’s ruined future. Cristobal Martinez, draped in a Venezuelan flag, echoed their sentiments, stressing the need for jobs and a better future. Maduro accused the opposition of inciting a coup. The Venezuelan attorney general warned of strict action against protest-related lawbreakers.

The US expressed concern over the announced results, urging Venezuelan authorities to release underlying data. The Organization of American States (OAS) will meet to discuss the results.