Venezuela crisis: Venezuelan opposition calls for mobilization on August 17 – South America

Caracas, Venezuela/this Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machadoafter the election of the left-wing president, amid complaints of electoral fraud, this Sunday called for a new mobilization next Saturday (August 17) Nicolas Maduro was declared the winner for a third term.

“This Saturday, August 17, we will take to the streets of Venezuela and around the world. Wherever there are Venezuelans, there we are (…) Let us shout together so that the world will support our victory and recognize the truth and the sovereignty of the people.” Machado said in a video posted on social networks.

“Remember, we won, Venezuela won (…) See you on the 17thadded Edmundo González Urrutia, Maduro’s rival in the July 28 election.

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Maduro He was declared re-elected president with 52% of the vote to González Urrutia’s 43%, but the pro-government National Electoral Council (CNE) did not release details of its review, claiming the voting system had been hacked. It still has not done so 14 days later.

The results announced by the CNE sparked protests that left 24 people dead, according to human rights groups, and more than 2,200 people detained, according to the CNE itself. Maduro He called them “terrorists” and announced the creation of two maximum-security prisons for them.

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Saturday, Gonzalez UrrutiaHe also took the official line, urging the government to replace Machado in the presidential election after the auditor general’s office disqualified him. Maduro With the support of the European Union (EU), it called for an end to “violence and persecution”.

The United States, the European Union and Latin American countries, including Colombia, Brazil and Mexico, which are governed by leftist presidents, have called for the minutes to be released.

Meanwhile, Maduro, accused of serving Chavismo, appealed to the Supreme Court (TSJ) against his request to “certify” the elections through a process that academics and political leaders considered unacceptable.

The opposition claimed that González Urrutia won with 67% of the vote and provided as evidence a website containing copies of more than 80% of the scanned minutes.

Machado and González Urrutia have reduced their public appearances as they are investigated by Venezuela’s judiciary, which the opposition accuses of undermining the government, and threatened with imprisonment by Maduro, the liberal leader who has declared himself underground.