At least one person died on Monday in Venezuela as security forces tried to break up protests triggered by a disputed election result that gave Nicolás Maduro a third term in power.
Security forces fired tear gas and rubber bullets at irate protesters challenging the victory claimed by the president, but disputed by the opposition and questioned by many other countries.
Thousands of people flooded the streets of several neighbourhoods of the capital Caracas, chanting: “Freedom, freedom!” and “This government is going to fall!”
Protesters smash an advertising board during demonstrations against the election results Credit: Matias Delacroix Protestors stand back as a riot police officer throws tear gas towards them Credit: YURI CORTEZ/AFP via Getty Images At least one person died in north-west Yaracuy state and 46 more were arrested in post-election demonstrations, Alfredo Romero, head of a rights group called Foro Penal, which specialises in political prisoner issues, said on X.
Around the country at least two statues of Hugo Chavez, the late socialist icon who led the country for more than a decade and handpicked Mr Maduro as his successor, were knocked down by protesters.
Some ripped Maduro campaign posters from street posts and burned them.
Demonstrators burned rubber and objects in fires Credit: Anadolu Demonstrators held Venezuelan flags Credit: Getty Images In Caracas, members of the national guard fired tear gas and rubber bullets at protesters, some wearing motorbike helmets and bandannas tied over their faces for protection. Some responded by throwing rocks back.
Protests were reported even in very poor areas of Caracas that had been bastions of support for Mr Maduro and his socialist government. Shots were heard in some areas and protests also broke out elsewhere in Venezuela.
Marina Sugey, a 42-year-old resident of a poor area of Caracas called Petare, told AFP: “We want freedom. We want Maduro to go. Maduro, leave!”
An injured police officer falls to the ground Credit: YURI CORTEZ/AFP via Getty Images Police hurdle a gas canister at protesters Credit: MATIAS DELACROIX/AP Mr Maduro, 61, attended a meeting Monday at which the National Electoral Council (CNE) certified his re-election to a third six-year term until 2031.
He dismissed international criticism and doubts about the result of Sunday’s voting, claiming Venezuela was the target of an attempted “coup d’etat” of a “fascist and counter-revolutionary” nature.
But Maria Corina Machado, the opposition leader, later told reporters that a review of voting records available so far clearly showed that the next president “will be Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia”, who took her place on the ballot after she was barred by Maduro-aligned courts.
The records showed a “mathematically irreversible” lead for Gonzalez Urrutia, she said, with 6.27 million votes to only 2.75 million for Mr Maduro.
Venezuelans questioned the electoral victory claimed by President Maduro Credit: Pedro Rances Mattey/Anadolu via Getty Images The elections were held amid widespread fears of fraud by the government and a campaign tainted by accusations of political intimidation.
Pollsters had predicted a resounding victory for the opposition.
In the early hours of Monday, the CNE said Mr Maduro had won 51.2 per cent of votes cast compared to 44.2 per cent for Gonzalez Urrutia.
The opposition cried foul, prompting Tarek William Saab, the attorney general, to link Mr Machado to an alleged cyber “attack” seeking to “adulterate” the results.