As tensions rise in Venezuela after polls closed on Sunday, Diosdado Cabello, Vice President of the ruling United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV) called on its supporters to take over the streets.
Cabello, one of the most prominent Chavistas in Venezuela, said this is necessary to defend the popular vote, which he, along with other officials, say favor the government. In contrast, exit polls have shown the main opposition candidate Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia winning the presidency by a landslide.
"Brothers and sisters, how are you? Look, once and for all, let's not think about it anymore, let's go to the streets,, because they (the opposition) don't understand reason, but rather popular mobilization," Cabello said.
"So let's move, let's move. They do not understand the reason for the people's vote, that the people came out to vote in a majority, that there are some results that the CNE [National Electoral Council] is going to give and those results they know do not favor them and they are going to seek to generate violence. So let's take the before, during and after plan at once. Defense of the vote. Give it a hug with Bolivar, with Chavez, with Maduro, with the people. We will win," he continued.
Cabello's address comes as the so-called "operacion remate" takes place. It's an old government strategy where loyalists wait until the last hour to head to the polls and cast last minute ballots for a dramatic effect.
In different cities across the country, several dozens of motorized groups, which identify as government supporters, rode to voting centers to cast their votes. But unlike previous contests, they were met with groups of opposition voters who stayed in the polls to ensure the legitimacy of the ballot counts.
That move was encouraged by Gonzalez and opposition leader Maria Corina Machado. They have expressed doubts about the impartiality of electoral authorities, and say a copy of the vote tallies issued by voting machines are a key document to demonstrate that the results are a true reflection of what the people want.
"We reiterate to all citizens that they have the right to participate in a verification," Gonzalez said to the press once the polls closed.
Machado said elections are in a "crucial stage" and asked followers for their "orderly presence."
"Nobody leaves the voting center until we have the proof in our hands of the results," she said. "We are already receiving the voting tallies and we are counting them one by one."
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