Sharjah 24 – AFP: Protests erupted across Caracas on Monday in response to Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro's re-election, which is contested by the opposition and questioned internationally.
After a quiet morning as residents processed the news, demonstrations began around lunchtime in several neighborhoods, including Petare, where protesters chanted, "This government will fall!" and burned Maduro's campaign banners. The protests grew despite rain and a heavy police presence.
Protesters, including 21-year-old Carolina Rojas and 40-year-old David, expressed their frustration over what they believe to be election fraud. Many had closed their businesses to join the protests, with some banging pots and pans in the morning as a sign of discontent.
The CNE electoral authority, loyal to Maduro, claimed he won 51.2% of the vote, while his opponent's proxy, Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia, received 44.2%. The opposition and several Western and Latin American countries have demanded an audit of the results. Maduro had previously warned of severe unrest if he lost the election.
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