Tension In Venezuela As Citizens Protest Maduro’s Controversial Election Victory

Tension has heightened in Venezuela as opposition supporters hit the streets to protest against Nicolas Maduro’s controversial victory in last month’s presidential election.

Crisis started when Venezuela’s electoral body, the National Electoral Council (CNE), on 29th July, declared President Nicolás Maduro as winner of the presidential election held across the South American country without giving a detailed result.

The electoral authority said to be under the control of Mr Maduro’s allies has refused to release detailed results, but declared he won with 52 per cent of the vote.

However, opposition said that according to vote tallies in the copies of election results collected by its observers, its candidate, Edmundo González, won by a wide margin.

According to a BBC report, the tallies which have been reviewed by independent observers and media, suggest Mr González won 67 per cent of the vote, compared to Mr Maduro’s 30 per cent.

A group of United Nations experts and independent observers like Carter Center, criticised the declaration of election result, saying it lacked transparency.

They kicked against declaring the incumbent, Nicolás Maduro, the winner without publishing detailed voting tallies.

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The government has announced that not less than 24,000 people have been detained since 29 July when the result was declared, for engaging in street protests and criticisms on social media.

He insisted that he won the third six-year term and urged law enforcement agents to apply full force on anti-government protesters.

Opposition leader, María Corina Machado, who reportedly, had been in hiding, joined thousands of protesters in the capital, Caracas.

Ms Machado, who was accused of orchestrating insurrection, encouraged protesters not to be afraid, adding that they won’t leave the streets until Maduro concedes defeat.