Maduro's election victory sparks right-wing backlash
By Gloria La Riva
Longtime socialist Nicolás Maduro was elected president of Venezuela on April 14, in a crucial election held five weeks after the death of revolutionary leader and president Hugo Chávez on March 5.
Notwithstanding the close vote
count—50.8 percent to 49 percent—Maduro’s presidency is a critical victory for
the Bolivarian revolutionary process and the United Socialist Party of
Venezuela’s ongoing struggle for socialism.
On April 19, Maduro will be inaugurated
in an historic day for all Latin America and a reaffirmation of the great
Bolivarian Revolution begun by Chávez.
Yet, as thousands of
Venezuelans broke out in celebrations across the country after Maduro’s victory
was announced, the defeated right-wing candidate, Henrique Capriles, refused to
concede, following his script written in Washington.
Before Sunday’s vote, U.S.
imperialism and the Venezuelan right wing crafted a plan of action to distort
the electoral outcome and create violent chaos afterwards, knowing Capriles’
defeat was likely.
Sunday night, April 14, the
violence was unleashed.
