Venezuela protests election

In the wake of Venezuela's contested presidential election, Nicolás Maduro has faced widespread protests and accusations of electoral fraud, claiming a victory with 51% of the vote against opposition candidate Edmundo González's 44%. The opposition, led by María Corina Machado, asserts they received 84% of the vote tally sheets, declaring González the true victor with over 7 million votes. Human rights organizations have raised alarms about the violent repression of dissent, with at least 12 deaths reported and over 740 arrests since the election. International reactions have varied, with Costa Rica offering asylum to opposition leaders and Peru recognizing González as president-elect, while Brazil has called for transparency in the electoral process. Amidst the chaos, Maduro has vowed to maintain order, labeling protests as a 'violent counter-revolution' and promising to crack down on dissent. The situation remains tense, with demands for the release of official voting data continuing to grow.