Protests against Venezeulan President Nicolás Maduro‘s widely disputed claims that he won re-election are expected around the world on Saturday.
Why it matters: Since declaring victory after the July 28 elections, Maduro’s autocratic government has arrested hundreds of protesters, raising concerns about human rights abuses as the the opposition continues to say its candidate, Edmundo González Urrutia, won by a wide margin.
Catch up quick: A UN Human Rights Council-appointed body investigating claims of abuses on Monday said protests have been met with “fierce repression” by the Maduro government. The group recorded 23 deaths tied to the government between the elections and Aug. 8.
- The White House has said González is the winner but has not formally recognized him as Venezuela’s president, as the Trump administration did with former opposition leader Juan Guaidó in 2019.
- Maduro maintains he won fairly and that outside countries are trying to oust him.
- Two major regional voices, Brazil and Colombia, have called for new elections, which opposition leader María Corina Machado has rejected.
- Machado last year won a primary election to be the opposition’s presidential candidate but was barred from running by Maduro’s government.
State of play: Machado this week called on Venezuelans all over the world to protest with printouts of ballots that opposition campaign volunteers obtained from 80% of precincts showing González won.
- Nearly 8 million Venezuelans have left their country in the last decade as democratic institutions and the economy have cratered, causing food and medicine shortages.
- Many have gone to nearby Latin American countries like Colombia, but thousands have made the trek north and now live in the U.S., with a majority residing in South Florida.
What we’re watching: It’s unclear how Maduro’s government will respond to any mass protests on Saturday or if Venezuelans at home will show up amid widespread repression.
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