Before Venezuela’s presidential election on July 28, people were deeply concerned and frightened. Supermarkets were crowded as people stocked up on essentials like food and water in preparation for possible protests. They feared a rigged election that could lead the country into a new era of crisis, marked by unrest and repression.
I have been in Venezuela since July and observed firsthand the fallout from the disputed election result. Following Nicolás Maduro’s declaration of victory – a claim the US has called an “insult to democracy” – the streets were filled with protesters chanting: “freedom … freedom … Maduro’s going to topple.”
The result has ultimately seen Maduro secure a third consecutive term in office but it has intensified political and social polarisation in Venezuela. Both Maduro’s government and the opposition assert they hold the “only truth”.
