CARACAS, Venezuela – President Nicolás Maduro will begin his third six-year term Friday, despite opposition claims of electoral fraud and widespread protests. Credible evidence suggests opposition candidate Edmundo González won the July 28 election, but electoral authorities loyal to Maduro declared him the victor without detailed vote counts. This has led to international condemnation and a crackdown on dissent.
Opposition leader María Corina Machado, a prominent figure barred from running, joined protests demanding González's inauguration. However, Machado was briefly detained by security forces, according to her aides, who claim coercion in recorded statements. International leaders, including President-elect Donald Trump, have voiced concern over the suppression of opposition voices and demanded Machado's release.
Maduro's supporters countered these accusations, claiming false news spread by opponents to create an international crisis. This narrative of electoral fraud and repression has been a recurring theme throughout Maduro's presidency, escalating in recent months.
Tally sheets from over 80% of voting machines collected by the opposition reveal González as the victor, significantly outpacing Maduro in the vote count. Despite this, the ruling party's electoral authorities have failed to produce evidence supporting Maduro's victory. The Carter Center, despite observing the election at the government's invitation, declared the opposition's tallies legitimate.
The dispute has prompted widespread condemnation and demonstrations. Over 2,000 protesters have been arrested, and numerous reports indicate torture of detainees. Several countries have expressed concerns, including Colombia's President Gustavo Petro, who cited earlier detentions of Venezuelan opposition members to justify his decision to skip Maduro's inauguration.
González, who is currently in exile in Spain, faces threats of arrest if he returns to Venezuela. Furthermore, his son-in-law has been reported missing, sparking further accusations of government involvement. The potential absence of significant international leaders at Maduro's inauguration adds another layer of scrutiny to the event.
