The Fall of Nicolas Maduro? Unrest Erupts in Venezuela Following Maduro's Re-Election

Venezuelans participated in a general election on Sunday hoping to unseat Socialist Party leader and current President Nicolas Maduro. Despite huge support for the opposition candidate Edmundo Gonzales and a huge turnout of his supporters, Maduro was announced as the winning candidate sparking unrest in the country. Sunday's election has been widely disputed, with Venezuelans on the streets in Caracas demanding Maduro's ouster. We analyze the evolving political situation in Venezuela and ask: is this the fall of Nicolas Maduro?

Crisis in Caracas: Why is Venezuela in Crisis?

After 11 years under the Nicolas Maduro regime, Venezuelans were ready for a change and Sunday's election, they hoped, would bring that change. President Maduro, who leads the Socialist Party, was keen to assure the citizens that he would accept the election results even in the face of rising doubt as he's seen to have captured the nation's electoral council.

Maduro was facing his stiffest opponent yet, Edmundo Gonzalez, who was fronted after the regime denied Maria Colina Machado, the popular candidate, a chance to be on the ballot.

For the first time in the last decade, the far-right political parties in Venezuela, led by the Voluntad Popular Party, had come together to support a single candidate. Their unity drew huge support for Maria Machado, a candidate whose message resonated with the citizens, igniting an energetic campaign against Maduro. President Maduro was seeking a third term of 6 years.

Political Unrest in Venezuela: Why are People Protesting in Venezuela?

Venezuelans are up in arms following the announcement that President Maduro had won the 2024 general election held on Sunday 28th July. They say that Maduro had no support while Gonzalez's supporters were the majority and they all turned out to cast their votes. The announced results, they say, are fabricated citing fraud in the election and a denial of their freedom.

Venezuela has suffered an unprecedented economic downfall in the last few years resulting in hyperinflation, forcing citizens to leave the country in masses. According to the UN, over 7 million people have left Venezuela since 2015, with those remaining suffering a dire economic situation and growing increasingly impoverished.

Maduro's Controversial Win: How Was Sunday's Election in Venezuela Different?

The 2024 General Elections in Venezuela, therefore, offered a chance for the nation to liberate itself from the increasingly autocratic and socialist rule of President Maduro, in pursuit of a more liberal government. Coincidentally, the far-right was now well aligned and united, providing an alternative candidate who could unseat Maduro in the polls.

Sunday's election presented the best chance for the opposition in years and for the people of Venezuela to free themselves from the era of the Socialist Party that has ruled since the days of Hugo Chavez. Chavez rose to power in 1999. When Chavez died in 2013, Maduro rose to power and was re-elected in 2018, in what the international community regarded as a fraudulent election.

Venezuela's Electoral Council Rejects Far-Right Candidate Maria Machado

When the Maduro government rejected the far-right's popular candidate Maria Machado, the Voluntad Popular Party replaced her with a former diplomat, Edmundo Gonzalez. Gonzalez was now the candidate the country could rally behind in the face of an increasingly untenable situation.

Despite concerns that Nicolas Maduro would interfere with the electoral results, his assurance that he would accept the results of Sunday's polls encouraged many to vote. Voters came out in droves, queuing for hours to get the chance to cast their ballot.

Venezuelans Abroad Denied a Chance to Vote in the 2024 General Elections

Of the nearly 8 million Venezuelans abroad, only 59,000 got the chance to vote as the electoral body put impediments and bureaucracies to lock most of them out. Most Venezuelans living abroad weren't able to vote but still turned out in places like Colombia, Venezuela's neighbor, to support those who could vote and celebrate the chance that Maduro could be defeated. Many of those who left the country have been wanting to return but cannot due to the prevailing economic conditions in Venezuela.

The Venezuelan National Electoral Council Announces Maduro's Re-Election

After the elections came to a close, it didn't take long until President Maduro was announced the winner and handed victory by the electoral council, much to the disdain of citizens. The council alleged that Maduro had won the election with 51% of the votes to Gonzalez's 44%.

The electoral body, however, failed to upload the election results tabulation, and tallies from the electoral machines, to its website. These documents would have ascertained the authenticity of the results announced.

Analyzing the Aftermath of Maduro's Re-Election

Opposition leaders Gonzales and Maria Machado came out to decry fraud in the election, saying that they had over 70% of the vote result papers from voting machines. Essentially, they said they had tallies for over 70% of the votes cast, and their candidate, Edmundo Gonzales had won in a resounding victory. Maria said that it was a miracle and decried the election body's refusal to relay the election papers for a confirmation of the count.

According to her, Edmundo Gonzalez garnered 6.27 million votes, beating Maduro who garnered 2.75 million votes. These numbers contradict those of the election council which had announced that Maduro had won with 5.15 million votes while Gonzalez had garnered 4.45 million.[Source: France24]

Maria went on to call the people to demonstrate late Monday saying, "My dear Venezuelans, tomorrow we meet; as a family, organised, demonstrating the determination we have to make every vote count and defend the truth," effectively calling for supporters to march on Tuesday.

Queridos venezolanos, mañana nos encontramos; en familia, organizados, demostrando la determinación que tenemos de hacer valer cada voto y de defender la verdad.

Nos vemos frente a las Naciones Unidas, en la Av. Francisco de Miranda en Los Palos Grandes, de 11:00am a 12m.… pic.twitter.com/MBBe8kKUWl

— María Corina Machado (@MariaCorinaYA) July 30, 2024

Unrest in Caracas: Protestors Flock Venezuelan Capital City Decrying Electoral Fraud

Come Tuesday, protestors flocked to the Capital City, Caracas, decrying electoral fraud. The protests are seen as inspiration for planned Gen Z protests in Kenya on August 8.

Congratulations Venezuela, this is What we are expecting to see in Nairobi come on 8th of August #NaneNaneMatch to ensure #RutoMustBeStopped pic.twitter.com/9DPXx0iwkj

— Abaya 🇰🇪 (@abayaonyiego) July 30, 2024

The protestors clashed with the police early Tuesday morning but were later seen greeting police officers and negotiating with military personnel for an end to hostilities.

Venezuelan military units greeting the protestors pic.twitter.com/rdTQRWkW44

— Cyprian, Is Nyakundi (@C_NyaKundiH) July 30, 2024

BREAKING: After hearing demands from protestors, a leader of a Venezuelan military unit withdrew his troops and allowed the protestors to continue

I pray that other military generals across the country do the same, and END socialist dictator Maduro
pic.twitter.com/C9dNgTyYe4

— George (@BehizyTweets) July 29, 2024

The protestors then marched to Maduro's residence, demanding his ouster.

They are not going back home.

They are Marching Forward to the presidential palace. #NaneNaneMarch we need a Million courageous Men & Women hitting the streets

Viva la revolution! ✊🏾 pic.twitter.com/Y76XZyKXV1

— 𝗔𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗰𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗰 (@Afro_254) July 30, 2024

They also brought down a statue of Hugo Chavez, proclaiming that they were tired of the Socialist Party and its rule.

Mayhem and chaos in Venezuela. Nicolas Maduro being ousted. Civilian coup aided by the National Guard Forces. Chavez Hugo statue broken. Development comes only hours after Edmundo Gonzalez was denied victory #MaduroDictador #MaduroTiranoDictador pic.twitter.com/9udtwlPtDy

— Stephen Mutoro (@smutoro) July 30, 2024

Following the unrest, on Tuesday evening, the opposition party also announced that its national political coordinator, Freddy Superlano had been kidnapped.

🚨 ALERTA NACIONAL E INTERNACIONAL URGENTE: Debemos denunciar responsablemente al país que hace escasos minutos fue secuestrado nuestro Coordinador Político Nacional Freddy Superlano.

Alertamos a la comunidad internacional sobre una escalada represiva de la dictadura de Nicolás… pic.twitter.com/9em0Xc0nOS

— Voluntad Popular (@VoluntadPopular) July 30, 2024

Voluntad Party asked the international community to denounce the election results, condemn the suppression of the vote, and call for the electoral body to publish the results of Sunday's vote.

What is the International Community Saying About the Elections in Venezuela?

The International Community has come out in support of the opposition. The United States, the European Union, and the UK have expressed deep concerns about the elections. U.S. Senator Rick Scott expressed support for the opposition saying that he "heard that Maduro put a warrant out for [Maria Machado] & [Edmundo Gonzalez] for standing for freedom".

Earlier today, I spoke with Maria and have since heard that Maduro put a warrant out for @MariaCorinaYa & @EdmundoGU for standing for freedom.

The United States must stand with the people of Venezuela as they courageously rally for freedom and democracy. pic.twitter.com/l46U4J5iKp

— Rick Scott (@SenRickScott) July 30, 2024

Seven South American nations also penned a joint letter denouncing electoral fraud in the 2024 Venezuelan General Election and supported opposition calls for the results' tabulation to be published.

In response, President Maduro recalled Venezuela's ambassadors to those countries and kicked out their ambassadors. The countries include Uruguay, Peru, Brazil, and Costa Rica. Only China, Russia, and Cuba expressed support for Maduro's re-election.

Uruguayan President Luis Lacalle posted on X saying: “The process prior to election day and the vote counting were clearly flawed. You cannot recognize a triumph if you can’t trust the forms and mechanisms used to achieve it.”

“Not like this! It was an open secret. They were going to ‘win’ regardless of the actual results”, he added.

Maduro also addressed the nation saying that the U.S. and other "imperial" forces were behind the protests and were planning a "coup". Maduro had previously said that if he were not re-elected, the country would not know peace and go into a "civil war" saying it would be a "bloodbath".

What is the Problem Between the U.S. and Venezuela?

The United States and European Union imposed crippling sanctions against the Maduro regime back in 2018 after Maduro won an election they saw as fraudulent. The effects of the sanctions have since trickled down to the Venezuelan population. These sanctions, analysts believe, have exacerbated the country's economic downfall. Venezuela's economic situation has deteriorated so badly that it has become a humanitarian crisis.

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The U.S. and EU sanctions were a result of what they felt was Maduro's autocracy and his grip on power back in 2019 when opposition leader Juan Guaido claimed he had won that election. Since then, the legitimacy of Maduro's government has been largely non-existent, with numerous nations not recognizing his government as legitimate. Moreover, the international community sees him as a dictator and strongman.

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Consequently, Maduro has been very critical of the U.S. and other nations who do not recognize his government as together with the sanctions, it has meant that Venezuela cannot fully develop or tap what it is known for to better the living conditions of its people.

What is Venezuela Known For?

Venezuela is known for its oil-rich reserves and is one of the largest oil exporters in the world. Despite this, the country's citizens are languishing in poverty largely thanks to the Socialist Party's policies and the increasingly autocratic rule of Nicolas Maduro.

Venezuela in Turmoil: What Maduro's Re-Election Means for the Country

Maduro's re-election is the worst nightmare for Venezuelans. The country has been through a lot of hardship, with millions of citizens leaving to seek better living conditions in neighboring countries. Most of these refugees are in Colombia, with others scattered across South America. Research indicates that about a third of Venezuela's population left the country i.e., about 8 million of the country's population of 24 million.

The re-election of Maduro presents them with a hurdle as his policies and those of the Socialist Party have not served the country. Despite the country being rich in oil reserves, Maduro's government has failed to tap it for economic success. He has also become increasingly autocratic, clamping down heavily on dissenters and consolidating his grip on power.

Additionally, Maduro is seen to have successfully captured several government bodies, including the military, judiciary, the state oil corporation, and even the electoral council. His continual rule would mean that Venezuela would remain in a dire humanitarian crisis, with citizens struggling to buy food or medicine and lacking essential government services such as electricity and clean drinking water.

These conditions are ultimately what has forced people of all ages to the streets to protest, demanding Maduro's ouster.

Unrest and the Future of Venezuela: Is this the Fall of Nicolas Maduro?

On whether the unrest in Venezuela marks the beginning of the fall of Nicolas Maduro, I believe so. Maduro's government is on its deathbed. The citizens of Venezuela have persevered through a lot of hardship. To now deny them their elected leader - and their democratic freedom to choose who leads them - is not only an affront but it's also unacceptable.

Tuesday's protest showed that indeed, the opposition leader Edmundo Gonzales had the numbers as thousands flocked to the capital Caracas, with most of them hailing from the nearby slums in the mountains surrounding the capital. Venezuela has been unlivable for the better part of the last decade since Maduro came into power 11 years ago.

As such, the disputed election results and the mounting pressure from citizens and the international community have a real potential of sending Maduro home. He is, however, expected to retaliate and reports indicate that at least 11 people died during the protests on Tuesday, and scores others injured. Police used teargas and rubber bullets to disperse the crowds.

The country's Attorney General Tarek Saab has also announced that the police arrested 749 protestors who he called "criminals" saying that they will face charges of resisting authority, and "in the most serious cases, terrorism". [Source: France24]

Venezuelans are tired of Maduro's regime and with a strong opposition who say they have proof that they won the election, Maduro may well be in his last days as the President of Venezuela. The situation is evolving by the hour nonetheless, and we are yet to see how it will end up. Stay tuned.