Crime
Maduro warns of "bloodbath" and "civil war" if he loses Venezuelan elections
The communist dictator’s statements illuminate the hostility and repression that has been ruminating for months throughout the entire South American country
July 21, 2024 10:17am
Updated: July 23, 2024 7:12am
During an event broadcast broadcasted by state television, Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro warned that if he loses the presidential elections on July 28, the country could face “a bloodbath” and a “civil war.”
“On July 28, if you do not want Venezuela to fall into a bloodbath, into a fratricidal civil war caused by the fascists, let us guarantee the greatest success, the greatest victory in the electoral history of our people,” Maduro said in a speech he delivered to an audience in the La Vega Parish of Caracas.
Maduro's statements add to an atmosphere of hostility and repression that has been ruminating for months throughout the streets of the entire South American country.#Venezuela
Nicolás Maduro: Si no quieren que Venezuela caiga en un baño de sangre y una GUERRA CIVIL , garanticemos la victoria.#GuerraCivil #CivilWar pic.twitter.com/wWEr6fybrC
— Alerta Noticias UKR 24 (@UKR_token) July 17, 2024
Many international observers and journalists have noted that Maduro has tried to control the election process by politically disqualifying his main competitor, opposition leader María Corina Machado, and then ordered dozens of arbitrary arrests and detentions to try to stop the imminent victory of the Venezuelan opposition, which could come on election day next Sunday.
Maduro’s recent comments were not the first time he suggested violence could break out if he does not win the election. Last week, the communist dictator said the country will decide “war or peace” in deciding the elections.
In recent months, the opposition denounced a wave of repression.
On Thursday, Machado said the vehicles in which she and her team travel were vandalized in the city of Barquisimeto, in the state of Lara.
Machado also released a video published on her social networks, showing how two of her trucks were vandalized, and painted with enamel. Their gas tanks were also emptied and their brakes had been cut.
The incident occurred one day after the regime sponsored kidnapping of Machado’s security chief, Milciades Ávila, who was released 24 hours after his arrest.
Ávila is still scheduled to reappear in court every 30 days.
