18/08/2024
18/08/2024

CARACAS, Venezuela, Aug 18, (AP): Venezuelans across the world - some with flags and other patriotic paraphernalia - responded to a call from their country’s political opposition Saturday and took to the streets to defend the faction’s claim to victory over President Nicolás Maduro in last month’s disputed presidential election.
The demonstrations in Tokyo, Sydney, Mexico City and several other cities were an effort by the main opposition coalition to make visible what they insist is the real outcome of the election. They also called on governments to throw their support behind candidate Edmundo González and express support to Venezuelans who are fearful in their home country of speaking against Maduro and his allies during a brutal repression campaign.
As thousands of Venezuelans waved the national flag, opposition leader María Corina Machado made her way through the streets of Caracas on a truck while shouting "brave” and "freedom.” Then, before a crowd, she said it was the moment "that every vote is respected.”
"Let the world and everyone in Venezuela recognize that the president-elect is Edmundo González,” she said while being applauded by thousands of cheering supporters.
Earlier, González, the opposition candidate wrote on his X account: "They will not be able to cover up the reality of July 28: we won resoundingly.” He didn't show up at the demonstration in Caracas.
In Mexico City’s Monument to the Revolution downtown, hundreds of people young and old alike loudly repeated the chants for "Freedom! Freedom!” that dominated the opposition’s rallies ahead of the election. "Maduro out! Maduro out!” they then screamed as motorists going by honked their horns.
"What is happening right now is that Venezuela woke up ... so much so that the government doesn’t dare to show the tally sheets,” Antonia Imbernon said, referring to the voting results documents that are considered the ultimate proof of results. "What are they afraid of?”
Venezuela’s National Electoral Council, whose members are loyal to the ruling party, declared Maduro the winner of the July 28 election hours after polls closed. Unlike previous presidential elections, the electoral body has not released the tally sheets’ detailed voting data to back up its claim that Maduro earned 6.4 million votes while González, who represented the Unitary Platform opposition coalition, garnered 5.3 million.