Tensions are escalating in Venezuela following the announcement of Nicolás Maduro as the winner of the presidential election, securing him a third consecutive term. The National Electoral Council (CNE), which is controlled by the government, declared Maduro the victor, but this result has been widely criticized as “undemocratic” by independent observers and dismissed as fraudulent by the opposition.
The European Union, the United States, and several Latin American countries have refused to acknowledge the result, calling on the CNE to release detailed polling station data that the opposition claims would show their candidate, Edmundo González, won by a significant margin. This refusal to recognize the outcome has sparked widespread anti-government protests, leading to numerous arrests by security forces loyal to Maduro.
Protesters are demanding change after 25 years of governance by the socialist PSUV party, which has controlled key institutions such as the CNE, the Supreme Court, and much of the judiciary. This consolidation of power has weakened the system of checks and balances and greatly enhanced the president’s authority.
Maduro’s first term began in 2011, coinciding with a dramatic fall in global oil prices. Since Venezuela depends heavily on oil revenue, the country entered a severe recession that lasted seven years, accompanied by soaring inflation and widespread shortages of essential goods. Despite waves of anti-government protests in 2014 and 2017, which were quelled by police crackdowns, millions of Venezuelans have fled the country due to economic hardship and political repression.
Maduro was re-elected in 2018 in an election widely deemed neither free nor fair. In early 2019, the divided opposition rallied around the National Assembly and its speaker, Juan Guaidó, who declared himself “interim president” with the backing of more than 50 countries. However, the military’s loyalty to Maduro, combined with support from China and Russia, helped him retain control.
Although Maduro eased some strict foreign currency regulations, extreme poverty remains high, driving over 7.7 million people to leave Venezuela. The opposition’s frustration with Guaidó’s inability to challenge Maduro led to the dissolution of his “interim government” in December 2022. In October 2023, the opposition held a primary to select a unity candidate for the 2024 presidential election. Former lawmaker María Corina Machado won decisively but was barred from holding public office by an ally of Maduro. She then endorsed ex-diplomat Edmundo González as the unity candidate.
Opinion polls had shown González leading significantly, and the opposition deployed thousands of witnesses and observers to monitor the election. Evidence from these observers, including voting tallies posted online and independently reviewed, suggests González won by a wide margin. Despite this, the Maduro government insists the CNE’s results are valid and has accused the opposition of incitement, labeling the protests as a coup and cracking down on dissent.
