Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has suspended access to the social media platform X (formerly Twitter) for 10 days, escalating tensions amid ongoing scrutiny over his recent reelection. The move comes as Maduro faces mounting pressure from Latin American allies Brazil, Colombia, and Mexico, who are demanding the release of detailed election results.
Maduro accused Elon Musk, the owner of X, of “inciting hate and fascism” in Venezuela. The suspension follows the controversial announcement of Maduro’s victory in the July 28 elections, which has not yet been accompanied by detailed polling data.
The lack of transparency has fueled protests that have resulted in at least 24 deaths and thousands of arrests. The opposition claims a landslide victory and warns of a potential mass exodus if Maduro remains in power. Opposition leader María Corina Machado, who was barred from running, warned of a possible migration crisis, suggesting that millions could flee Venezuela if the situation worsens.
Since Maduro’s rise to power in 2013, more than seven million Venezuelans have fled the country, primarily to neighboring Latin American nations and the United States. His presidency has been marked by a severe economic crisis, including an 80% drop in GDP, exacerbated by domestic mismanagement and international sanctions.
The United States has led sanctions against Maduro’s regime and threatened further action if opposition figures like Machado or Edmundo González Urrutia, the opposition candidate, are arrested. U.S. Ambassador to the Organization of American States, Francisco Mora, indicated that additional international pressure might follow such arrests.
Machado and González Urrutia have been in hiding for over a week, fearing for their safety. On Thursday, two more opposition leaders, Williams Dávila and Américo de Grazia, were arrested, adding to the growing list of detentions following the election.
The Venezuelan public prosecutor’s office has initiated a criminal investigation into Machado and González Urrutia, accusing them of various crimes including “usurpation of functions” and “incitement to insurrection.” González Urrutia had previously defied a Supreme Court summons, citing fears for his safety.
Critics argue that both the court and the National Electoral Council (CNE), which declared Maduro the winner with 52% of the vote, are loyal to the president and have accused the CNE of fabricating a hacking incident to avoid disclosing actual results. The opposition has launched a website claiming to have copies of 84% of the ballots, showing González Urrutia as the clear winner. The government dismisses these as forgeries.
Maduro responded to international criticism and allegations by announcing that X would be “withdrawn from circulation” by Venezuela’s telecommunications agency. He defended the suspension, accusing Musk of fostering division and hatred. The Carter Center, invited to monitor the election, stated it had found no evidence of a cyberattack.
The crisis continues with Maduro reporting additional casualties and arrests, further complicating Venezuela’s already tumultuous political landscape.
