Thousands of people gathered in the streets of Venezuela’s capital on Saturday to show their support for an opposition candidate who they believe won the presidential election by a landslide. Despite authorities declaring President Nicolás Maduro as the winner of the election, voting tallies have not been produced to confirm his victory. Following the disputed poll, Maduro’s government arrested hundreds of opposition supporters and threatened to incarcerate opposition leader María Corina Machado and her chosen presidential candidate, Edmundo González.
At the rally in Caracas on Saturday, supporters chanted and sang in support of Machado, who had been in hiding since Tuesday due to safety concerns. Masked assailants raided the opposition’s headquarters the day before the rally, taking documents and causing damage. Despite the challenges, Machado addressed the crowd and expressed optimism about the future.
After the rally, Machado was escorted away on a motorcycle, while González, who is also in hiding, did not make an appearance. Meanwhile, Maduro called for his own supporters to attend a march in Caracas.
The rally highlighted the deep political divide in Venezuela and the tense atmosphere following the disputed election. Supporters of the opposition candidate are determined to stand up against what they view as an unjust electoral process, while Maduro’s backers continue to show their support for the government. The situation remains volatile as both sides remain steadfast in their positions.
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