Political crisis in Venezuela following TSJ's support for Maduro in controversial elections.

The recent decision by the Supreme Court of Justice (TSJ) of Venezuela, which confirmed Nicolás Maduro as the winner of the controversial presidential elections held on July 28, has sparked a wave of rejections and protests from the opposition and the international community. The ruling, based on an expert assessment requested by Maduro himself, reaffirms what was announced by the National Electoral Council (CNE), an organization that has already faced criticism for its lack of transparency and independence. Opposition candidate Edmundo González Urrutia, who was favored in the elections according to data presented by his witnesses, expressed his outrage through social media, reminding that "sovereignty resides untransferably in the people." His statements, citing Article 5 of the Venezuelan Constitution, reinforce the opposition's stance that no judicial ruling can supplant the popular will expressed at the polls. For her part, María Corina Machado, a prominent opposition figure, emphasized that there is no maneuver that can confer legitimacy to Maduro after what she deemed a "coup against the Constitution." This tense climate intensifies as the opposition denounces what they consider electoral fraud, pointing out that the CNE announced a victory for Maduro with 52% of the votes, a figure that contradicts the results they claim to have gathered. The situation is further complicated by the manipulation of electoral records. The opposition has released 80% of the records obtained by their witnesses, which show a clear victory for González Urrutia. However, the lack of publication of official records by the CNE fuels suspicions of irregularities and distrust among voters, leaving many Venezuelans questioning the veracity of the results. Internationally, the controversy has not gone unnoticed. A panel of experts from the United Nations has indicated that the elections did not meet the standards of "integrity and independence." The United States, along with the European Union and a group of 22 countries, has urged Venezuelan authorities to make the electoral records public, a demand that has yet to be addressed. The presidents of Colombia and Brazil, Gustavo Petro and Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, respectively, have proposed the possibility of repeating the elections as a way to resolve the political crisis triggered by the results. This option reflects the growing concern for stability in the region and the desire to find a peaceful solution to the polarization in Venezuela. Maduro's response to popular discontent has been harsh. Following the announcement of his victory, a wave of protests erupted in several cities across the country, which were quickly suppressed, resulting in over 1,500 arrests, according to the NGO Foro Penal. This context of repression has led Maduro to enable "maximum security" prisons to house protesters, whom he has labeled as "terrorists" and "criminals." The situation in Venezuela continues to deteriorate, given that the lack of transparency in the electoral process and the repression of social protests have left many citizens disillusioned and fearful. The opposition, for its part, faces the challenge of mobilizing its base and seeking both national and international support to reverse what they consider a usurpation of democracy. As the crisis deepens, the international community watches closely the evolution of events in Venezuela. The options for resolving this crisis are becoming increasingly urgent, and the possibility of a peaceful change seems distant. However, the clamor for justice and the defense of democracy resonates strongly among citizens who long for a different future for their country. The response from the opposition and international pressure will be key in the coming days, and the development of the situation in Venezuela could have significant repercussions for the region as a whole. Meanwhile, the fight for truth and popular sovereignty continues, with the Venezuelan people at the center of the battle for their future.