Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro declared victory over opposition candidate Edmundo González Urrutia following this past Sunday’s presidential election. The National Electoral Council, loyal to Maduro’s United Socialist Party, announced that Maduro had secured a third six-year term.
But the day-of exit polling showed that González Urrutia’s campaign would win by more than half, fueling claims that the election was stolen by a socialist authoritarian leader who has ruled the struggling country for 11 years.
The Western international community is not convinced Maduro and his party won the presidential election. Canada, along with the U.S., Brazil, Colombia, and Chile, as well as the Organization for American States (OAS), all issued statements calling on Maduro to show proof that he won. He has yet to do so.
Large portions of the Venezuelan population are also not convinced. Thousands have taken to the streets since the results were announced to protest the claimed electoral fraud. Police forces have responded with tear gas in places to disperse protestors, though many gatherings have persisted despite the crowd-clearing efforts. So far, at least six people have died during the demonstrations that the Venezuelan government has labelled an “attempted coup.” Undeterred, thousands of angry Venezuelans have continued in the streets of the nation’s capital, Caracas, and in other cities around the country.
In late 2023, the Trudeau government moved to restore Canada-Venezuela relations, working towards a formal, pragmatic diplomatic relationship with the South American nation. This decision has since been questioned in light of this week’s events.
Here are five Tweets reacting to Venezuela’s electoral results and protests.
While Canada’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mélanie Joly did not explicitly reject the Venezuelan presidential election results, she called for proof that the vote was accurate.
(2/2) We call on the Venezuelan authorities to respect the will of the people, and to ensure transparency and publish detailed results for all polling stations.
— Mélanie Joly (@melaniejoly) July 29, 2024
Anaida Poilievre, the Venezuelan-born wife of Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre, wrote in her native Spanish, “Long live freedom! Until the end!” Anaida retweeted her husband who was commenting on María Corina Machado, a leader in Venezuela’s opposition. Despite being the most popular politician in Venezuela, Machado, nicknamed the “Iron Lady,” was banned from standing in the election by Venezuela’s highest court.
Machado supported Urrutia and has insisted that he beat Maduro, pointing to likely evidence of election fraud. Machado has claimed that the opposition won more than 70 percent of the vote.
Viva la libertad!
— Anaida Poilievre (@AnaPoilievre) July 27, 2024
Hasta el final! https://t.co/tRr4swkt3J
Venezuelan state-run news agency Telesur, an ally of the Maduro regime, announced the winner of the election with an official poll, which totalled 109.2 percent. Some say this is another clear indicator of election fraud.
#Venezuela: The @NicolasMaduro regime cannot count to 100. Apparently, 109% of votes have been counted, with the "loyal oppositions" getting 4.6% each. Tell me you've engaged in #megafraud without telling me you've engaged in mega fraud. Source: @teleSURtv pic.twitter.com/GO6vfgAlB8
— Ryan Berg, PhD (@RyanBergPhD) July 29, 2024
In 1980, Venezuela was the wealthiest country in South America by GDP per capita. It holds the largest crude oil reserve in the world, which has been the backbone of its economy. However, despite its “petrostate” potential, it is now the country with the lowest GDP per capita in South America.
In 2023, 50 percent of Venezuela’s population of 28 million was living in poverty.
While the rest of South America has economically developed, #Venezuela has remained stagnant.
— Pyotr Kurzin (@PKurzin) July 30, 2024
And despite being one of most resource abundant countries in the world. Maduro is part of that problem. #VenezuelaLibre pic.twitter.com/ShlqrnwdfK
After his contested election win, Maduro was congratulated by the Foreign Ministry of the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Both countries are hostile regimes governed by authoritarian dictators.
Canadian journalist John Ivison commented on Iran’s congratulatory Tweet, writing, “You are the company you keep.”
Gracias a la República Islámica de Irán por estar siempre acompañando a Venezuela, el pueblo venezolano les agradece el reconocimiento de una jornada electoral bonita, de democracia y ejercicio de la soberanía. Vamos con más integración, hermandad y cooperación mutua. https://t.co/c2tGu78kiu
— Nicolás Maduro (@NicolasMaduro) July 29, 2024
Un caluroso abrazo al Presidente Vladimir Putin por su respaldo, disposición y buenos deseos, seguiremos prestos a trabajar unidos para enriquecer y fortalecer nuestras relaciones de amistad y solidaridad. También es bienvenido en nuestra amada Patria. ¡Los pueblos de Rusia y… https://t.co/gBCfR9C2fB
— Nicolás Maduro (@NicolasMaduro) July 29, 2024
The Maduro regime has watched 7.8 million Venezuelans flee the country since 2015 due to the country’s political and economic crisis. Around 85 percent are currently residing in neighbouring countries such as Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Chile, with each host country struggling with an already daunting humanitarian crisis.
Venezuela has also been suffering from hyperinflation, estimated to reach around 150 percent in 2025. Many residents have been struggling to afford basic necessities, with children suffering or dying from malnutrition.