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Excerpt from Jurist
Venezuela opposition calls for worldwide protests over disputed presidential election result
The leading opposition party in Venezuela is calling for protests around the world this Saturday to dispute the electoral victory of incumbent President Nicolás Maduro, which was upheld by the country’s Supreme Court of Justice.
President of the Court Caryslia Beatriz Rodríguez stated that the decision is final and not appealable. Both Maduro and opposition candidate Edmundo González claimed victory in the election, triggering hearings in court to validate the result. González was not present at the hearings due to concerns about his safety.
As a result of the opposition’s claim to an electoral victory, the government has launched criminal investigations which accuse González and other opposition figures of instigating an insurrection. Maduro has characterized the planned demonstrations as a violent and hateful attack on the rule of law in Venezuela.
The government’s National Electoral Council (CNE) released results stating Maduro won the July 28 election by a narrow margin. These have been disputed by the opposition, many members of the international community, and independent observers. Electoral tally sheets released by the opposition suggest that opposition candidate Edmundo González won the election by a dramatic margin. This result is supported by exit polls, quick counts, and independent observers, according to US Secretary of State Antony Blinken.
