Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro on Sunday (08/04/2024) praised the “exemplary conduct” of the National Guard – the military body responsible for public order – as he faces opposition protests against his re-election in the July 28 elections that have left at least 11 civilians dead.
“I want to congratulate this professional, humane and powerful National Guard (…), because you have been and are the backbone of peace, the protection of the people, tranquility, security,” said Maduro at an event for the 87th anniversary of that body, with the presence of the high command of the Armed Forces.
“We are facing a coup d’état in the streets of Venezuela (…), an imperialist coup d’état, an imperialist ambush,” the Chavista leader alleged.
Maduro, “ready for anything”
Maduro was ratified on Friday by the electoral authority, accused by his opponents of serving Chavismo, as re-elected president with 52% of the votes, compared to 43% for opposition candidate Edmundo González Urrutia. The opposition, however, denounces fraud.
Protests against Maduro’s election to a third term have left at least 11 civilians dead since Monday, according to human rights organizations, and more than 2,000 arrested.
At the event on Sunday, where he authorized promotions and awarded decorations, the president expressed condolences to the families of two members of the National Guard who died in violent incidents during the protests.
They were “killed in ambushes by criminals, hired criminals prepared and trained for this coup d’état,” he told the high command of the Armed Forces, which has declared “absolute loyalty” to Maduro.
“Fascism in Venezuela will not seize power. I am ready for anything,” warned Maduro, who on Saturday said that “police-military” patrols will continue throughout the country to “protect the people.”
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