Stores in Venezuela remained shut and bus services were suspended on a large scale this Wednesday due to exacerbated worries concerning a contested presidential election outcome and fears surrounding arrests in opposition ranks. As declared by the electoral council, President Nicolas Maduro, in power since 2013, emerged victorious in the recent weekend voting. The opposition alleges that nearly 90% of vote records demonstrate that their nominee, Edmundo Gonzalez, mustered over twice the backing received by Maduro.
On Tuesday, a statement from the Carter Centre, the US-based election monitoring operation, described the election as undemocratic, pinpointing a lack of transparency in the election process and highlighting the absence of published disaggregated results as a severe violation.
Wide-scale protests have ensued as a result of this controversy, a response which Maduro and his administration have deemed a coup attempt. According to one non-political entity, these protests have lead to at least 11 fatalities.
Maduro advocates that Gonzalez, the opposition candidate, and opposition leader Maria Corina Machado should be responsible for the alleged unlawful activities by protesters. Meanwhile, Jorge Rodriguez, Congress’ chief for Maduro’s ruling socialist party, communicated to legislators on Tuesday that these opposition figureheads ought to be detained.
The Maduro administration revealed that two security force members also lost their lives and encouraged the public to document any criminal incidents linked to what they dub as “fascist actions” via a mobile app.
On Wednesday, there were increasing fears amongst the opposition that Gonzalez and Machado could face arrest, as both were last seen in public in Caracas the previous day. According to state television VTV, Maduro submitted a legal writ to the country’s highest court’s electoral division, although they did not offer further details.
On X on Wednesday, Machado cautioned of the regime’s rising cruel and suppressive tactics, stating 16 individuals had been killed, and 177 had been arbitrarily detained in the past two days.
Six opposition members have sought refuge at the Argentinian ambassador’s residence in Caracas since March, when arrest warrants were dispatched in their direction. Their social media updates informed that police vehicles were stationed outside and power supply to the premises had been interrupted. This event was a continuation of the pattern of warrants and arrests targeting the opposition before the day of the election.
According to a Brazilian official, Brazil has implored Mr Maduro to respect the sovereignty of the Argentinian embassy in Caracas. Voluntad Popular stated that its national coordinator, Freddy Superlano, was arrested on Tuesday. The attorney general, Tarek Saab, has yet to provide a comment on the situation involving Mr Superlano.
Ricardo Estevez, a high-ranking official of Vente Venezuela, was also reportedly arrested according to his party. In Caracas, many stores were operational, albeit with extended queues and diminishing stock, as confirmed by Reuters witnesses. There was also a heightened military presence surrounding the presidential palace.
Supplies such as vegetables were in high demand and could take multiple days to restock in stores, according to retail industry sources. In several other Venezuelan cities and towns, public transport was functioning at a minimal level, with numerous stores either remaining shut or planning to close early.
Fear kept bus drivers in Maracay off the roads, whereas the bus terminal in San Cristobal lacked buses to dispatch, although it was open. On the other hand, the bus terminal in Barquisimeto was completely shut. Jose Marcano, a 32-year-old supermarket worker in the central city of Valencia, stated that he rode his bicycle to work due to the lack of public transportation. He added that with reduced staffing, even administrative workers had to assist at the checkout desks.
The state oil company, PDVSA, issued a statement saying that stations across the country would remain open, however, there were reports of long queues in numerous locations. Since Sunday, there have been witnessed clashes between security forces and opposition protesters in different cities, as well as assaults on protesters by groups known as collectives affiliated with the ruling party.
At a march on Tuesday, Maduro’s supporters claimed that the election had been decided. Waves of anti-government protests in 2014, 2017 and 2019 resulted in hundreds of fatalities but were unable to unseat Maduro. Two anonymous opposition sources informed Reuters that their main objective is to pressure the government into releasing all vote counts. However, they did not specify their methods. Other opposition routes to power might include negotiation or international pressure escalated by protests.