Venezuela's military chief backs Maduro, calls protests a coup as new unrest expected over disputed election

October 20, 2024

Venezuela's military chief claimed Tuesday that the country was facing a coup, as new protests were expected following President Nicolás Maduro's disputed victory in the weekend's election. "I speak to you with the calmness of the truth," González said Monday outside his campaign headquarters in Caracas, The AP reported. Police officers stand guard next to demonstrators waving Venezuelan flags during a protest against Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro's government in Caracas, July 29, 2024. "The obligation of each institution in Venezuela should be to ensure freedom, justice, and transparency in the electoral process. The organization suggested a potential do-over election with a robust international observer mission, and it called an urgent meeting of its members.