Protests Erupt Across Caracas After Maduro Claims Reelection
BloombergAUG 2024
Venezuela: At Least 11 Dead in Protests Over Maduro's Election Win
Above: A demonstrator waves a Venezuelan flag during a protest against the official results of the presidential election on July 29, 2024 in Caracas, Venezuela. Image copyright: Jesus Vargas/Stringer/Getty Images News via Getty Images
The Spin
Pro-establishment narrative
This mockery of an election has shown that all efforts to ensure a peaceful democratic transition for Venezuela were in vain because Maduro never really intended to carry out free and fair elections — let alone to leave power. González is the rightful president-elect, and the world's democracies must recognize that and pressure Maduro.
Establishment-critical narrative
As expected, far-right mobs in Venezuela have turned back to street violence in yet another desperate, US-backed, undemocratic attempt to overthrow Maduro after losing the popular vote. It's no coincidence that a company closely linked to Washington and the opposition was responsible for exit polls suggesting outcomes far from the official results.