Elections in Venezuela | “The neighborhoods came to Caracas”: why popular sectors lead protests that question Maduro’s victory declared by the CNE

“I live in a popular area in Caricuao and I was surprised to find people making pots and pans. This has never happened before.”

This is what an unemployed young man in the center of Caracas told me, who preferred not to be named: “My neighborhood was always a very Chavista area,” he adds.

Venezuela’s capital has become the epicentre of intense protests rocking the South American country following the announcement of highly disputed election results.

Cacerolazos spontaneously generated And he broke the silence that seemed to have enveloped the city Unexpected election results,

They continued throughout the day and were heard again in different areas of Caracas.

But some expected that will be heard louder in popular neighborhoods The capital of Venezuela, many of which used to be strongholds of the Chavista movement.

From Catia, to Petare – one of the most populated places in Latin America – passing through La Vega and El Cementerio. In some areas the noise was deafening.

The protest did not stop here. Apart from this, people started coming out on the streets spontaneously, some with utensils in their hands.

As opposition leaders remained silent, the streets of Caracas slowly heated up.

“This march is from the Petare neighbourhood, there are no political parties here and we don’t have any party that is giving us anything,” María Vázquez, a 60-year-old housewife, tells BBC Mundo.

“We left because this fraud must be stopped. This government must go,” he adds.

The emblematic Plaza Altamira, in the east of the city, once again became the meeting place of the opposition.

Hundreds of Patareños and people from other popular sectors from Caracas and its outskirts (some had travelled from the satellite cities of Guarenas and Guatire to protest) gathered there waving flags and chanting: “A people united will never lose” and “This government is going to fall”.

Jonathan says he moved from the Macaé sector of Petare to Altamira to “defend the vote”.

This 39-year-old from Caracas affirms that “the inspiration ofPeople in the neighbourhood“Going out and protesting is because they are tired of being abused.

“We don’t want bags (of food) or anything from the government. Let them take away all our benefits if they want. People here are angry. Did they want the neighborhood on the streets? Well, we are all out,” he says.

Protest They were not limited To Altamira.

In the Catia neighborhoods, in the west of the city, in José Félix Ribas de Petare (east) and in El Valle (south), protesters tore down the president’s electoral campaign banners, while other groups occupied the streets of the center of the capital, very close to the Miraflores Palace, seat of the National Assembly and government.

Many intended to go there to “drive out” Maduro.

In a video that circulated online and which BBC Mundo was able to verify, a group of people tore down a statue of former president Hugo Chavez in the city of Coro, capital of the Falcon state in northwest Venezuela.

alejandro velascoHistorian at New York University and author of the book Barrio Rising: Urban Popular Politics and the Making of Modern VenezuelaThose who believe that neighborhoods usually change governments affirm that what is happening now in Venezuela has not happened for decades.

However, he predicts that there will be a regime change in the South American country This will not happen immediately.but slowly.

“The Caracazo, without a doubt, when the hills came down, it dealt the final blow to puntofismo (the two-party system). The formal final blow didn’t come until 1998, when Chavez was elected, but in the Caracazo he was already mortally wounded,” he said in an interview with BBC Mundo in 2017.

Now he’s emphasizing that the city is coming back down from the hills.

“The neighborhood arrived in Caracas today, there’s no doubt about that,” he told BBC Mundo.

Velasco assures that big challenge of opposition leaders It’s always been like this in Venezuela Unite popular areas As with more traditional protests, it was difficult for people in the neighborhood to recognize these politicians.

“I think now we’re finally seeing that moment of unity and reunion,” he says.

For him, one of the factors that promoted this union was great expectation was created because of the possibility of The country should get a new direction By the hands of the new government.

Another has been the crisis. “Although the economy has improved a little compared to previous years, this improvement has not reached the popular sectors. “If you don’t have a family member outside who can send you money and if you don’t have access to what little remains of the social welfare state, you can only ‘scrounge,’” he explains.

“It affects the poorest regions more. Chavismo hoped for an economic recovery to save them, but the reality is that it is not considered, neither in the interior of the country nor in the poor areas.

He believes it has become more difficult for the government now that people in the neighbourhood have joined the anti-government movement: “People in the neighbourhood are not so easily intimidated.”

The same thing was told to me by another young man from Petare in Altamira, who assured that they, the people of the neighborhood, had nothing to lose.

“They have taken away our dignity, child. I don’t have (money) to buy food for my daughter. Look at my shoes, they are all broken, and I don’t have money to buy new shoes.

The National Electoral Council on Sunday declared Maduro the winner with 51.2% of the vote, while opposition candidate Edmundo González Urrutia had 44.2%, after examining 80 minutes of ballots.

However, González rejected the result, along with opposition leader María Corina Machado, who had been selected as a pre-candidate in the primaries but was disqualified from running.

“There is a new elected president and he is Edmundo Gonzalez, and everyone knows it,” Machado said Sunday night, after confirming that her count reflected 70% of the vote for Gonzalez and 30% for Maduro.

After remaining silent throughout the day, opposition leaders addressed the people of Venezuela after 6:00 pm (local time).

He assured that he has proof of this More than 73% of minutes This would give González Urrutia a victory in the election.

Machado also spoke about the protests taking place across the country.

“They are spontaneous manifestations in popular areas. Legitimate manifestations. I want to invite you to join us. Tomorrow as a family we are going to meet in popular assemblies across the country,” he called.

He said the government “wanted to create violence” and urged his followers to act “in an orderly and civilized manner, but very firm”.

Government of Nicolás Maduro The protests were answered with repression,

As night fell, the smell of tear gas began to waft in many parts of the city and sounds of gunfire were heard in several areas.

Most protesters dispersed and went home. But others were left to answer to the officers.

They set up barricades in several sectors and defended themselves with whatever they could. Usually stones and sticks.

“It’s hard because We don’t have weapons like them“One protester told me.

Katiuska Justo, another young woman from Paterna, 31, was affected by the tear gas and decided to go home.

“We went peacefully and they know how to suppress, but I expected nothing less. “I knew there would most likely be suppression and at worst tear gas.”

Although he decided to rest, He plans to return “tomorrow and for as many days as necessary.” Until this government falls.”

“I’m tired of this dictatorship. I spent six years outside my country trying to help my family. But I returned from Bogota and now I want a better life here in Venezuela,” he added.

After the launch of several tear gas bombs The protest in Altamira dispersed, but the sound of pots and pans soon resumed from the balconies of buildings in the area.

While peace returned to Altamira, clashes continued in other areas of Caracas, with objects burned in some sectors and police forces prepared to quell the remaining marchers.

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