Venezuelan elections | Why popular communities are leading protests against the re-election of Nicolás Maduro announced by the CNE | Petare | Katia | Fraud | María Corina Machado | María Corina Machado Edmundo González Urrutia | Edmundo González Urrutia Collective | Demonstrations | World

Before mobilization, National Election Commission (China News Network) Officially announced Maduro The election on Sunday, July 28, was won with 51.2% of the vote, but the result was rejected by the Senate Majority oppositionwith 73% of the minutes, ensuring Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia won The difference in votes in his favor was more than 3 million votes.

Mira: ‘Unprecedented fraud’: How Maduro won Venezuela’s election against all odds

“People are frustrated. It has to go one way or the other.”María Arraez, a 27-year-old stylist, took to the streets in 2017. Petare With a big flag Venezuela at the back.

“I don’t want bonuses, I don’t want applause, I just want Nicholas to leave”protesters chanted. The Local Committee of Supply and Production (CLAP) was formed in early 2016 by Maduro as a mechanism for distributing subsidized food due to the country’s severe economic crisis.

Mobilization Petare Go forward until Tea Herb,in Bolivarian National Guard (GNB) He used tear gas to quell the protest, AFP reported.

After the uprising Petaremobilization was also reported in other popular communities Caracas Just like the rest of the country.

In coastal cities la guairasimilar Caracas, Dozens of young people They took down the statue of Hugo Chavez The nearly 2-meter-tall statue was placed in a local square in 2017, four years after the ruler’s death, according to the Associated Press. They dragged her into the street When they beat her with sticks. They wrapped her in the Venezuelan flag and set her on fire.

There were also protests in the area KatiaA poor community Caracas Traditionally thought to be Chavista. The same thing happened valleyin the southwest.

Maduro He rejected the protests, saying they were aimed at destabilizing his government. Commit coup Against him.

“This is not the first time we have faced the situation we are facing today. Another coup attempt in Venezuela. “Fascist and counter-revolutionary in nature” explain Maduro.

Until Tuesday, non-governmental organizations Criminal Forum He reported that Six people died during the period protestThe arrests included two minors and were confirmed by the police in the states of Aragua, Táchira, Yaracuy and Zulia.

The Physicians for Health organization said 84 people were injured in the demonstrations, some of which were suppressed by tear gas and projectiles.

On Tuesday morning, Venezuela’s Attorney General Towing William SaabThe report said 749 people were arrested during the protests, warning that the number could rise in the coming hours. The prosecutor’s office also said a state soldier “died from gunfire from protesters.” Aragua.

“749 of these criminals have been detained”Saab said in a statement to the press, in which he made it clear that the public ministry It is considering charging them with “resistance to authority and, in the most serious cases of terrorism”.

Why are communities protesting Maduro now?

Over the past 25 years, the Venezuelan community has been considered Bastion of Chavismo. when Hugo Chavez When he was still alive, nearby residents often used examples like this to justify their support for the regime: “You see that post on the hill? That’s what Chavez said. Cuba has a doctor service and free medicine. It didn’t exist when the right was in power. Before, if you had cramps in the early morning, you had two choices: stay home and risk dying, or go down the hill and risk being attacked by thugs on the way who would kill you.” But things have changed in recent years.

Oscar PerezVenezuelan politician Exile in PeruThis is PetareHe was born and raised nearby and served as an elected representative for 15 years.

In conversation tradingPerez explained why Petare Other poor communities are starting to turn their backs on Maduro.

“There are two reasons for this: The economic crisis is huge, People are starving. Especially in popular areas. Petare It is the largest community in Latin America, similar to San Juan de Lurigancho, with the same problems, the same demographics, but five times the size of SJL. Another reason is that People are eager to reunite with their loved ones abroad. These 8 million Venezuelan immigrants became the great mobilizers for people to go out and vote en masse on July 28th.”,He said.

“I am from PetareI know this neighborhood well. He is an icon of the Bolivarian RevolutionNow people are walking out because they are betting on change. Before, poor people went out to demonstrate against the opposition, to confront them. But today Nicolás Maduro’s revolution has lost the people. It is a revolution without people.”Perez said.

“Those who are now protesting with the democrats were until recently wearing red shirts defending the Bolivarian Revolution”Perez insisted.

Venezuelan political scientist Jose Vicente Carrasco Insist in believing Maduro cannot retain community support due to poor management.

“You can’t get support if people are hungry, if there’s no electricity for four to five hours a day and no water a few times a week. You should have the power to manage, but if you don’t manage well, people will want to sack you.“,He said trading.

“People in these communities somehow They have already distinguished themselves from Chavismo, They succeeded in conquering them at first by presents, giftsfavors, but these have not ultimately become mechanisms for improving the quality of life; on the contrary, people are increasingly losing purchasing power, and their survival problems are increasing. Hospitals are not working, schools or universities are not working, and people are unwilling to work in a country where everything is not working. Living”explain Carrasquero.

Social control exercised by groups

Over the years, another explanation has been used to answer this question. Why the community did not protest against the regime Related to social control collectiveThey are heavily armed paramilitaries loyal to the regime and have a presence in many impoverished areas of the country. A group of people were seen suppressing protesters in downtown Caracas on Monday.In a widely circulated video, they were seen firing shots right next to police officers with total impunity.

“These groups are criminals, they are armed gangs, they are not ordinary people, they have a license to kill, they kill people, but they don’t go to jail.“Before they went to scare the middle class, but now they try to kill people like them, who ultimately don’t have much to lose and who also understand them,” Indian cannabis Carrasquero.

The political scientist also mentioned a video that circulated on Monday in which Armed criminals threaten to take action against these groups If they suppress demonstrations nearby. “This reflects that Venezuela is a lawless country”he claimed.

Perez said the groups are becoming fewer and fewer in number.. “These paramilitaries, as long as they don’t receive money, as long as they don’t receive allowances, will not accompany Maduro in the persecution of peaceful protesters.”

Will the regime’s police and military move into neighborhoods to quell protests? “The only way Maduro can stay in power is through repression, but once repression breaks down, he will fall”Carrasquero said.

“They will try to suppress community protests, but The problem is, entering the community is like entering a Brazilian favela.“In these places, people carry weapons, they are hidden, there are alleys where security officials can easily be trapped,” Carrasquero added.

About Demolition Chavez statueCarrasquero said it was a response by the people to the regime’s aggressive and derogatory treatment, which was amplified through state channels. Venezuelan Televisionthere are programs with well-known politicians of the ruling party in which they permanently insult “people who are no longer subdued.”

“They have been demolished Statue of Hugo Chavezhe is the most iconic figure of Chavismo and the Bolivarian Revolution, No one has spoken out against this.. Those who demolished them are the same people who at some point supported this proposal by the police. Venezuela”Perez pointed out.