- Title: Venezuela’s Machado says government is sowing rage amongst the population
- Date: 27th August 2024
- Summary: CARACAS, VENEZUELA (AUGUST 27, 2024) (REUTERS) (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) VENEZUELAN OPPOSITION LEADER, MARIA CORINA MACHADO, SAYING: “Everyone knows they intend to steal this, they haven’t done it yet, they intend to (steal the election) because this isn’t ready yet, on the contrary. What does (Venezuelan President Nicolas) Maduro have today? A very small group of high-ranking
- Embargoed: 10th September 2024 17:41
- Keywords: Edmundo Gonzalez Maria Corina Machado Nicolas Maduro arrests detainees elections
- Location: CARACAS, VENEZUELA
- City: CARACAS, VENEZUELA
- Country: Venezuela
- Topics: South America / Central America,Government/Politics,Elections/Voting
- Reuters ID: LVA001959427082024RP1
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro is angering the population with repression and by incarcerating children, opposition leader Maria Corina Machado said on Tuesday (August 27), as an election dispute reached the one-month mark and the opposition's pathways to claim power seemed narrow.
The disagreement over the July 28 contest has sparked international cries for the release of full vote tallies, deadly protests and moves by the country's prosecutor to investigate the opposition and arrest journalists.
Machado said in an interview with Reuters that the opposition has a "robust strategy" to claim victory. She would give no details but added that she and former opposition candidate Edmundo Gonzalez are united.
"What does Maduro have left today? A very reduced group of high-ranking soldiers, the control of magistrates from the (top court) and arms...he is sowing fear,” Machado, who has appeared at marches but otherwise been in hiding since the vote, said via video call.
Venezuela's national electoral authority and its top court named Maduro the election's victor, saying he won just over half of votes in the election.
But tallies from about 80% of ballot boxes posted on an opposition website show a resounding victory for Gonzalez, giving him 67% support.
Machado's comments came the same day that Gonzalez is expected to ignore - for a second time - a summons to appear at the attorney general's office to testify about the opposition website.
Gonzalez, a 74-year-old former diplomat, ignored his first summons on Monday and an arrest warrant could be issued for him if he ignores a third.
Venezuelans are feeling rage and pain over repression and the country's profound economic woes, Machado said.
Asked if those feelings could lead to violent protests, Machado said she is confident in Venezuelans.
"There is a robust strategy that we are advancing simultaneously on many fronts: national public opinion, keeping our people focused on the goal," she said.
Protests since the vote have led to at least 27 deaths and 2,400 arrests, and both the opposition and the ruling party have asked supporters to demonstrate on Wednesday, the one-month anniversary of the vote.
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