Protests Erupt Across Caracas After Maduro Claims Reelection
BloombergJUL 14 2024
Two people have been confirmed dead, with several other reports of deaths pending verification, as police and pro-government paramilitary colectivos clashed with demonstrators in protests over alleged electoral fraud that rocked Venezuela on Monday.Two people have been confirmed dead, with several other reports of deaths pending verification, as security forces and pro-government paramilitary colectivos clashed with demonstrators in protests over alleged electoral fraud that rocked Venezuela on Monday.
This comes as hundreds took part in an anti-government march from the poor neighborhood of Petare to downtown Caracas, and hundreds of others reached the city's international airport.
Demonstrators chanted "Freedom!" and ripped Pres. Nicolás Maduro campaign posters from street posts in Caracas. Meanwhile, at least two statues of late socialist leader Hugo Chávez, who handpicked Maduro as his successor, were toppled around the country.
As expected, far-right mobs in Venezuela have turned back to street violence in yet another desperate, US-backed undemocratic attempt to overthrow Maduro after losing the popular vote. It's no coincidence that a company closely linked to Washington and the opposition were responsible for exit polls suggesting outcomes far from the official results.
Pro-Est