Protests erupt over Venezuela election, strongman Maduro claims victory

IN VENEZUELA –

A PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION WAS JUST HELD. VOTES ARE IN.

AND VOTERS – ARE TAKING TO THE STREETS PROTESTING THE RESULTS.

WHICH  ARE BEING REPORTED IN TWO VERY DIFFERENT WAYS –

MAKING WORLD LEADERS INCLUDING THE U.S. – DOUBT THE VALIDITY OF THE ELECTION.

THE AUTHORITARIAN PRESIDENT NICOLAS MADURO IS CLAIMING TO HAVE WON RE-ELECTION BY A SLIM 51 PERCENT MAJORITY –

DESPITE EXIT POLLS SHOWING HIS CHALLENGER UP BY MORE THAN 30 POINTS.

OPPOSITION CANDIDATE “EDMUNDO GONZALEZ” –

IS ALSO CLAIMING VICTORY –

BY A SIZEABLE 73 PERCENT MARGIN – SAYING THERE WERE MORE THAN 6 MILLION VOTES FOR HIM.

AND LESS THAN 3 MILLION FOR THE INCUMBENT.

THE CONFUSION OVER THE ELECTION OUTCOME IS CREATING CHAOS ON THE STREETS OF VENEZUELA.

PROTESTERS – APPLAUDING THE TOPPLING OF A STATUE OF THE LATE PRESIDENT HUGO CHAVEZ – AN ALLY FOR THE CURRENT REGIME.

THE SOCIALIST PARTY OF VENEZUELA HAS BEEN IN POWER FOR OVER 25 YEARS.

THE COUNTRY’S ELECTIONS COMMISSION – HAS CALLED THE RACE FOR MADURO. 

IF RESULTS STAND – THEN HE WOULD BE ENTERING HIS THIRD PRESIDENTIAL TERM.

THIS ISN’T THE FIRST TIME MADURO’S RE-ELECTION HAS BEEN QUESTIONED BY THE UNITED STATES.

IN 2018 – THE U.S. CALLED MADURO’S VICTORY A FRAUDULENT ONE.

AND INTERNATIONAL LEADERS ARE CALLING FOR TRANSPARENCY OVER THESE LATEST ELECTION RESULTS.

PROBLEMS PLAGUE VENEZUELA AND HAVE FOR YEARS.

FOOD AND MEDICINE SHORTAGES. HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS LEADING TO U.S. SANCTIONS. HIGH UNEMPLOYMENT IN A COLLAPSED ECONOMY.

A FINANCIAL AND HUMANITARIAN CRISIS.

AND A MASS EXODUS OF VENEZUELANS – CORRUPTION PROMPTING NEARLY 8 MILLION VENEZUELANS TO LEAVE THEIR HOME COUNTRY.

SOMETHING THAT DIRECTLY IMPACTS THE U.S.

BUT RESIDENTS THERE WHO ARE PROTESTING AND CONTESTING THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION  –

WERE HOPEFUL THIS ELECTION COULD TURN THINGS AROUND –

SO THEY COULD STAY HOME AND REBUILD A BROKEN NATION.

“I came to the street. We want freedom. We’re tired of this government, we want a change. We want to be free in venezuela. We want to be free with our families to return here, we don’t want them to leave anymore.”

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