The controversial re-election of Nicolas Maduro has plunged into Venezuela in more uncertainty: the president, favored by all powers, launched a legal battle to settle the allegations of fraud that generated protests and international pressure to verify the records.
Maduro, leader of the Chavista movement that began more than 25 years ago, claims he won fairly on Sunday, but the opposition says otherwise. Leader Maria Corina Machado says she has proof of the victory of her candidate on the ballot, Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia, and has called for more demonstrations.
The “legal” path
Proclaimed reelected with the 51% of the votes, Maduro decided to refer the controversy to the Supreme Court of Justice (TSJ), of the official line, after pressure and criticism from the opposition and the international community due to the lack of publication of minutes by the National Electoral Council (CNE).
His version of the events places him as a victim. He reports a “coup” and points out that the opposition tried to hack the electoral system to prevent him from being declared the winner.
“Fortunately, the CNE was able to safeguard the minutes and proclaim the winner. Now the president has gone to the TSJ to have his victory recognized (…) by the judiciary, an independent power,” Communications Minister Freddy Ñáñez told AFP.
But there are doubts about this legal battle.All state institutions are in the hands of the government,” points out political scientist Luis Angarita.
Repression
Maduro promised to act firmly against the “fascists” in the demonstrations and ordered a deployment of security forces, especially in the popular neighborhoods where most of the anti-government protests occurred.
“This time there will be no forgiveness,” Maduro said that he has asked for prison for Machado and González Urrutia and the maximum sentence for the “violent” and protesters.
According to the Prosecutor’s Office, there are already more than 1,000 detainees due to the protests, which promises to charge them with “terrorism”. He also reported the death of a soldier.
Human rights organizations reported eleven civilians killed in protests, although the opposition put the figure at 16.
The government’s message seems to be “we can hold on by force,” says Angarita.
The fraud”
The opposition claims to have gathered more than 80% of the minutes, which would give González Urrutia the victory with the 67% of the votes, thanks to the witnesses deployed in the 30,000 polling stations.
Electoral expert Eugenio Martínez does not believe in the hacking theory. The pirates would have “had to hack 15,000 encrypted transmission lines”.
“The credibility of this hack is of the 0%”, said one informed observer, believing that those in power probably sabotaged the system to defraud.
International pressure
Supported by the United States, the European Union (EU), but also to a more moderate extent by Latin American left-wing neighbors such as Colombia, the opposition is demanding an independent audit of the elections with a review of the minutes.
“I invite the Venezuelan government to allow the elections to end in peace, allowing a transparent scrutiny with vote counting, minutes and with oversight by all political forces in the country and professional international oversight.”requested the Colombian president, Gustavo Petro.
However, Maduro seems sure of what he is doing and ordered the expulsion of diplomats from seven Latin American countries: Argentina, Chile, Costa Rica, Peru, Panama, the Dominican Republic and Uruguay. He congratulates himself, meanwhile, on the “great help” from Russia, Iran, Belarus, Cuba, Nicaragua and Bolivia.
He has avoided making any forceful statements about his neighbours. He has also recalled that his country is used to “resisting” and stresses that the United States, like other Latin American countries, is suffering from not being able to receive more oil from Venezuela.
Mobilizations
The protests against Maduro began spontaneously on Monday. First with a cacerolazo in several popular areas and various regions of the country and then with demonstrations in the streets.
They were repressed by the security forces, which are now massively deployed at the end of the afternoon as part of Maduro’s order to maintain “the order”.
Machado, however, has called for more mobilizations to defend the votes and asked the motorcyclists who support her to be in “front line”.
Two questions remain: can the opposition mobilize and oust Maduro with street pressure? Will the army be loyal?
After around seven million Venezuelans left the country, many believe the opposition is no longer able to rally crowds.
Some hope that the Armed Forces, a pillar of power favored by former President Hugo Chávez and then by Maduro, are crumbling.
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Source: Gestion
Ricardo is a renowned author and journalist, known for his exceptional writing on top-news stories. He currently works as a writer at the 247 News Agency, where he is known for his ability to deliver breaking news and insightful analysis on the most pressing issues of the day.
