Skeptical Venezuelans, upset over President Nicolas Maduro’s purported electoral victory, took to the streets to protest, amid widespread suspicions the administration conspired to steal the election.
The Associated Press reports on the police crackdown on protesters, which involved firing rubber bullets and tear gas at demonstrators:
Shortly after the National Electoral Council, which is loyal to Maduro’s ruling party, announced that he had won a third six-year term, angry protesters began marching through the capital, Caracas, and cities across Venezuela.
In the capital, the protests were mostly peaceful, but when dozens of riot gear-clad national police officers blocked the caravan, a brawl broke. Police used tear gas to disperse the protesters, some of whom threw stones and other objects at officers who had stationed themselves on a main avenue of an upper-class district.
Comdemning the political fallout, El Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele accused the Maduro government of committing fraud to stay in power.
Lo que vimos ayer en Venezuela no tiene otro nombre más que fraude. Una “elección” donde el resultado oficial no tiene relación con la realidad. Algo evidente para cualquiera.
Rompimos relaciones diplomáticas con Maduro desde hace 4 años. No las reabriremos hasta que su pueblo…
— Nayib Bukele (@nayibbukele) July 29, 2024
“What we saw yesterday in Venezuela has no other name than fraud,” Bukele wrote on X, according to an English translation. “An ‘election’ where the official result has no relation to reality. Something obvious to anyone. We broke diplomatic relations with Maduro 4 years ago. We will not reopen them until their people can elect their leaders in real elections.”
Likewise, Argentinian President Javier Milei issued a statement claiming Maduro had committed mass fraud.
“Dictator Maduro has committed fraud. They have awakened the Venezuelan lions and sooner or later socialism will end, this impoverishing model will end. Socialism is always a murderous phenomenon. Courage, dear Venezuelans, you will get ahead,” Milei said in a video posted to X.
See images of the utter destruction wrought in the third world country’s capital city of Caracas below:
Hugo Chávez's statue was just torn down in Venezuela. The people are rising up.pic.twitter.com/GvzyVUne9M
— End Wokeness (@EndWokeness) July 29, 2024
BREAKING: Confrontations between the resistance and Maduro’s armed forces. pic.twitter.com/xfYPqquIdv
— I Meme Therefore I Am
(@ImMeme0) July 29, 2024
Venezuelans captured and beat the crap out of "colectivos," who are paid by Maduro’s regime to intimidate protesters in Caracas. pic.twitter.com/rU5JK1iG0K
— I Meme Therefore I Am
Venezuelans captured and beat the crap out of "colectivos," who are paid by Maduro’s regime to intimidate protesters in Caracas. pic.twitter.com/rU5JK1iG0K
— I Meme Therefore I Am
BREAKING: Protestors are now burning banners of socialist dictator Nicolás Maduro
I love Venezuelans, this is the fighting spirit I love to see
pic.twitter.com/PtGlvkFuhC— George (@BehizyTweets) July 29, 2024
JUST IN: Citizens preparing to FACE OFF with military in Venezuela following reports Maduro STOLE the election.
DEVELOPING..
pic.twitter.com/qOTuhP5xLO— Chuck Callesto (@ChuckCallesto) July 29, 2024
JUST IN: Venezuelan military troops allow the popular uprising against Maduro’s
fraudulent election to continue.This is a positive sign that suggests the military may help topple the illegitimate socialist regime.
pic.twitter.com/vIwDPFoBRE— Kyle Becker (@kylenabecker) July 29, 2024
Anti-Chavista protests have kicked off in Caracas, with pro-freedom protesters overturning Maduro’s military and police vehicles. pic.twitter.com/FtbzPJ9IfB
— Ian Miles Cheong (@stillgray) July 29, 2024
Teneis que quemar este edificio. Llegará justicia a Venezuela solamente después de una profunda limpieza de la escoria que gobierna el país pic.twitter.com/SELSxB5dRT
— Daniel Estulin (@EstulinVz) July 29, 2024
Protestors have completely taken over following election result.
Insane footage. pic.twitter.com/xDrMoKDtK5
— Concerned Citizen (@BGatesIsaPyscho) July 29, 2024
In a press conference Sunday, Maduro referred to billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk as his “archenemy,” saying, “You were behind everything, with your money, with your satellites… We have you as an enemy of Venezuela’s peace.”
BREAKING:
Maduro calls Elon Musk his "archenemy” and says Elon wants to come to Venezuela with an army and his space rockets and invade it.
Can you confirm or deny it @elonmusk?pic.twitter.com/opQqF4Uy38
— Visegrád 24 (@visegrad24) July 29, 2024
Musk, who on Monday celebrated protesters tearing down statue of former Venezuelan leader Hugo Chavez, responded via X, “El burro sabe mas que Maduro,” meaning a jackass is smarter than Maduro. He then apologized that the comparison insulted the animal kingdom.
Perdón por comparar al pobre burro con Maduro. Es un insulto al mundo animal.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) July 29, 2024