Venezuelan opposition leader urges military to protect people after election

“We call on the conscience of the army and police to stand on the side of the people and their families,” they said in a letter signed by both sides. They demanded an end to the “repression” of opposition protests and “guarantees for those who fulfill their constitutional obligations” in the eventual “new government.”

According to human rights groups, the demonstrations have left at least 11 civilians dead. Maduro has reported that more than 2,000 people have been detained. In addition, two soldiers have died in the violence.

“The Supreme Command is aligned with Maduro and his evil interests, while you are represented by those who came out to vote (…) whose will was expressed on July 28, as you know,” states the document signed by González Urrutia as “President-elect”.

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González Urrutia was nominated as a deputy to Machado, who won the opposition primary but was politically disqualified.

On Friday, the National Electoral Council (CNE) approved Maduro’s re-election as president with 52% of the vote, while the opposition candidate received 43%.

The opposition insists Gonzalez received 67 percent of the vote, based on voting records he posted on his website. Maduro has dismissed the validity of the documents.

“The new Government of the Republic, democratically elected by the Venezuelan people, provides guarantees for those who fulfil their constitutional obligations. Likewise, he emphasizes that there will be no impunity. This is the promise we made to every Venezuelan,” said González Urrutia and Machado.

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Maduro assured that an attempted “coup” was underway. The military high command declared last week its “absolute loyalty” to the leftist president.

The United States, the European Union and several Latin American countries refused to recognize Maduro’s re-election and demanded the disclosure of vote counting records. CNE claimed that its system was hacked. Detailed results have not yet been announced.