At least four people died in the violent protests that broke out on Monday after the disputed re-election of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and that were repressed by the authorities, before new demonstrations called this Tuesday by Chavismo and the opposition.

The NGO Foro Penal reported the first death in the state of Yaracuy (northwest), and then the National Hospital Survey, a network that monitors the hospital crisis, reported another three deaths and 44 injuries, most from firearms. The Ministry of Defense reported that 23 military personnel were also injured.

The authorities also detained fifty people, including opposition leader Freddy Superlano, in what the opposition has called a “repressive escalation.”

A day after the pro-government National Electoral Council granted victory to Maduro for a third six-year term (51% of the votes), thousands of people took to the streets to protest. Police used tear gas and rubber bullets on Monday to disperse demonstrations, while gunshots were heard in some sectors.

“Unfortunately, in the last few hours we have reports of dead people, dozens of injured and detained. “We urge the security forces to respect what will be expressed on July 28 and stop the repression of peaceful demonstrations,” opposition candidate Edmundo González wrote on social network X, who denounced fraud and claimed his victory.

Led by María Corina Machado, the opposition says it has the evidence to prove it, while the international community presses for a transparent vote count. Machado called this Tuesday to hold “citizen assemblies” in front of the United Nations headquarters in Caracas, and also in all cities of the country.

For his part, Maduro, who denounces a coup d’état “of a fascist and counterrevolutionary nature,” called for “a large march toward Miraflores,” the presidential palace, “to defend peace.”

The Armed Forces, the main support of the government, expressed their “absolute loyalty and unconditional support” to Maduro, said the Minister of Defense, General Vladimir Padrino, who joined the thesis of the coup against the government.

“We will act forcefully in perfect civil-military-police union to preserve internal order throughout the national territory,” he stated in a televised message. Maduro is “our commander in chief, who has been legitimately re-elected by the popular power and proclaimed by the Electoral Power for the 2025-2031 presidential period.”