Protests, Massive Arrests, One Month After Nicolas Maduro’s Contested Re-election, Venezuela Continues to Descend into Chaos
Following a widespread power outage on Friday morning, the government in Venezuela has denounced it as an “attempted coup” amidst the chaos that has gripped the nation since Maduro’s contested reelection in late July 2024.
Early Friday morning, on August 30th, an extensive power outage left residents across all 24 states of Venezuela, including the capital Caracas, paralyzed with a total or partial loss of electricity supply. The government attributed the blackout to sabotage, even going as far as claiming it was a coup attempt.
This blackout incident painfully recalls a similar event in 2019, a few months after the disputed presidential election where Maduro’s victory was already contested, resulting in a five-day nationwide power outage.
Opposition Suppressed and Targeted Continuously
In a television interview, the Interior Minister referenced a “terrorist attack” and accused the opposition of employing their classic strategy. The main opposition leaders have been in hiding since the election results on July 28th, confirmed by the Supreme Court last week, while the National Electoral Council has yet to release the voting records.
Since then, the government has escalated its pressure and repression tactics. In just a month, the unrest has led to 27 deaths and nearly 200 injuries, with over 2,400 individuals arrested. This week, a prominent lawyer close to the opposition led by Maria Corina Machado was imprisoned, silencing all critical voices.
Diosdado Caballo, a prominent figure in the regime who was appointed the Minister of Interior and Justice two days ago, symbolizes this authoritarian shift. A close ally of Hugo Chavez, he regularly issues menacing statements against regime opponents. He hosts the weekly television and radio show “Con el Mazo Dando” (“With a Heavy Mallet”) every Wednesday, where he praises the professionalism of security forces and frequently issues threats. A 2022 Amnesty International report highlighted the link between his on-air stigmatization and subsequent arrests that often occur days or weeks later.
Opposition Presidential Candidate in Prosecutor’s Crosshairs
Despite the severe repression, the opposition remains steadfast. During a fourth rally on Wednesday, leader Maria Corina Machado, now in hiding, declared she is not afraid and vowed to her supporters that they will bring down Maduro. However, on Friday, August 30th, the opposition’s presidential candidate, Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia, was once again summoned by the prosecutor’s office. Authorities threatened to issue an arrest warrant if he failed to comply with this third summons, as he has not been seen in public since July 30th.
The candidate faces nearly ten charges brought by the prosecutor’s office and is frequently attacked or insulted by Maduro. Meanwhile, the exodus of the population continues. Over 7.5 million Venezuelans have fled to neighboring countries since 2015, which accounts for over 20% of the population, as reported by the United Nations Refugee Agency.