Maduro enemies: Over 7 million vote in Venezuelan referendum
CARACAS, Venezuela – More than 7 million Venezuelans cast symbolic votes rejecting President Nicolas Maduro’s plan to retool the constitution in a strong but not overwhelming show that left the opposition facing tough choices two weeks before the socialist leader seeks to reshape the country’s political system.
Sunday’s vote was marred by violence when a 61- year- old woman was killed and four people wounded by gunfire after government supporters on motorcycles swarmed an opposition polling site in a church in western Caracas.
Analysts said the 7,186,170 votes for the opposition across Venezuela and the country’s diaspora around the world was an impressive show of support.
However, it fell short of the opposition’s 7.7- million- vote showing in 2015 legislative elections and the 7.5 million votes that brought Maduro to power in 2013.
Opposition leaders said that was because it was only able to set up 2,000 polling places in a symbolic exercise the government labeled as illegitimate.
Still, some supporters said they were disappointed.
“I thought it was going to be more,” said Mariela Arana, a 56-year-old school counselor. “But these seven million people spoke and it was plenty.”
Video posted to social media s howed massive crowds outside the Our Lady of Carmen Church, t hen hundreds of people running in panic outside the church as motorcycle- riding men zoomed past and shots rang out.
Maduro called for an end to violence that he blamed on the opposition.
“I ’ m c a l l i n g o n t h e opposition to return to peace, to respect for the constitution, to sit and talk,” Maduro said. “Let’s start a new round of talks, of dialogue for peace.”
In smaller numbers in many parts of the capital, government supporters went to polling stations in a rehearsal for the July 30 vote.
“I signed because there’s no medicine, no food, no security,” she said. “There’s no separation of powers, no freedom of expression.”
Clashes between protesters and police have left at least 93 people dead, 1,500 wounded and more than 500 behind. (