VENEZUELANS hit the streets on Saturday in a series of massive demonstrations to safeguard the country’s Bolivarian revolution.
The marches, called by the United Socialist Party of Venezuela and labelled as the Great National March for Peace, came as the US-backed opposition continued to cast doubt on the victory of Nicolas Maduro in the presidential election.
Thousands rallied in the capital Caracas to the presidential Miraflores Palace, to give their support to President Maduro and show their support for the outcome of the poll, which took place on July 28.
Demonstrators shouted slogans such as “The streets belong to the people of Bolivar, Chavez and Maduro;” “We are joy, we are the majority” and “There is no room for violence in Venezuela.”
A large caravan of motorcyclists also toured the capital to show their support for the president.
Before the demonstration began, representatives of the motorcyclists called for respect for the democratic process in Venezuela, telling Venezuelan Television that “they must prevent their children from being used by fascism.”
They, along with the other marchers, also rejected the imperialist attack that is being mounted against the country through economic sanctions.
There were marches across small towns as well as cities across Venezuela, with thousands turning out in Nueva Esparta, Maracay, Yaracuy, Monagas and many others.
The far-right opposition also held a protest in the streets of the Venezuelan capital early on Saturday to reject the election result.
They were joined by opposition leader Maria Corina Machado, who has supported US sanctions against Venezuela and backed former opposition leader Juan Guaido, who declared himself president of the country in 2019 with the support of then-US president Donald Trump.
This contributed towards Ms Machado being barred by Venezuelan authorities from running for office for 15 years.
Supporters chanted and sang as Ms Machado arrived at the rally in Caracas.
“After six days of brutal repression, they thought they were going to silence us, intimidate or paralyse us,” she told them.
Ms Machado’s handpicked candidate for the presidency, Edmundo Gonzalez, is reportedly in hiding and was not seen at the event.
The National Electoral Council confirmed on Saturday that Mr Maduro had been re-elected with 51 per cent of the vote after 97 per cent of the ballots were tallied.
Supreme Court of Justice president Caryslia Rodriguez called on the National Electoral Council to submit a full scrutiny report of the election.
