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Have you ever wondered what happens when the very core of democracy, the right to vote, is allegedly manipulated and integrity compromised? The streets of Caracus recently echoed with the resounding voices of demonstrators, crying out for the truth behind Sunday's presidential election in Venezuela.
On Tuesday, the heart of the capital was pulsating with energy as protesters packed the streets, cheering for the opposition. Edmundo Gonzalez, the opposition candidate, brandished what appeared to be vote tally sheets, asserting that President Nicholas Maduro's landslide defeat was evident. Despite the country's election authority declaring Maduro the winner, the opposition, led by Maria Kina Machado, who was barred from running but spearheaded Gonzalez's campaign, claimed victory. But what does this tell us about the state of democracy in Venezuela?
Gonzalez, with over twice as many votes as Maduro based on 90% of the vote tallies they've accessed, declared, "With these numbers, we will begin the Reconstruction of Venezuela, hand in hand with all of you." However, the Venezuelan electoral authority's announcement on Monday stated that Maduro had secured a third term with 51% of the vote. The question arises: can we truly trust the Electoral body that the opposition alleges is biased towards the dictatorial government?
The Carter Center, a US-based organization that observed the vote, released a statement late on Tuesday, saying the election "did not meet International standards of electoral integrity and cannot be considered democratic." They added that the Electoral authorities' failure to publish disaggregated results was a serious breach, highlighting a deeply flawed process from start to finish.
As the country reels from the controversy, protests have erupted across Venezuela, with voters demanding transparency. Tragically, at least 11 people have been killed in incidents related to the vote count or associated protests, according to a local Human Rights group. The scenes of police clashing with protesters have been captured on camera, adding fuel to the fire.
In response, Maduro's government has denounced the protests as an attempted coup. On Tuesday evening, the president ordered military and police patrols across the country. He also hurled accusations at Gonzalez and Machado, calling them cowards and terrorists for allegedly inciting violence.
The question remains: Is this the face of democracy in Venezuela? As tensions rise and the battle for transparency continues, only time will tell. But one thing is certain - the people's voices will not be silenced.
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