Venezuelan Opposition Protests Again in Cities Across the Country

Three weeks after Nicolas Maduro was declared the winner of the Venezuelan presidential election, opposition protests continue, with thousands taking to the streets once again. According to Reuters, protests were held on Saturday, August 18, in various cities across Venezuela, and Venezuelan migrants in some countries also demonstrated in support of the opposition. In Caracas, the capital of Venezuela, thousands gathered in the eastern part of the city, where opposition leader Maria Corina Machado stood on a vehicle in the crowd, calling for an independent and international verification of the election. Emphasizing that 'nothing is above the voice of the people and the people have spoken,' she urged her supporters to remain in the streets. Protests in this Latin American country began after the announcement of the presidential election results on July 29. The Venezuelan electoral body, controlled by Nicolas Maduro's government, declared him the winner with 52% of the votes. Opponents claim that Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia, the opposition candidate, won decisively with 67% of the votes. In the past three weeks, Venezuela's neighbors, as well as the United States and the European Union, have proposed a series of measures, including the release of vote counting details and holding new elections, to resolve the current crisis, but Maduro's government has rejected them. During this time, the crackdown on protests has continued, resulting in at least 23 deaths and over 2,400 arrests, according to Reuters. The protests on Saturday took place in multiple cities, including Caracas, Valencia, San Cristobal, Barquisimeto, and Maracaibo, with demonstrators holding flags, protest signs, or ballots. Reports indicate that security forces in Maracay, a city 110 kilometers west of Caracas, dispersed protesters by firing tear gas. A 52-year-old protester in Caracas told Reuters, 'My daughter died due to a lack of medical equipment in the hospital; I have nothing to lose, but I want a future for my grandchildren.' According to the Institute of Higher Management Studies in Caracas, during Nicolas Maduro's presidency, Venezuela's GDP has decreased by 73%, and he has effectively led the country into an 'economic collapse.' In recent years, over seven million people have been forced to leave Venezuela. On Saturday, Venezuelan migrants in several cities around the world, including Mexico City, Madrid, Buenos Aires, and Bogotá, held gatherings in support of the Venezuelan opposition. The United States has recognized Maduro's rival as the winner of the Venezuelan election.