Maduro urges state ‘iron fist’ after protests against his reelection

By AFP
August 13, 2024
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro gestures as he leaves a press conference to the international media about the presidential election at the Miraflores presidential palace in Caracas. — AFP/File
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro gestures as he leaves a press conference to the international media about the presidential election at the Miraflores presidential palace in Caracas. — AFP/File

CARACAS: Venezuela´s President Nicolas Maduro called on Monday for an “iron fist” from the state after deadly protests in response to his July reelection, widely dismissed as a sham.

“I demand from all the powers of state greater speed, greater efficiency and an iron fist against crime, against violence, against hate crimes; an iron fist and certain, severe justice,” he said.

Venezuela´s National Electoral Council (CNE), most of its members loyal to the regime, announced socialist Maduro as the victor of July 28 elections with 52 percent of ballots cast -- but without providing a detailed breakdown.

The opposition says its own tally of polling-station-level results showed its candidate Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia, a 74-year-old retired diplomat, had won more than two-thirds of votes cast.