Thousands of Venezuelans are flooding the streets near Caracas’ largest slum to protest the declaration of Nicolas Maduro as the winner of Sunday’s presidential election by the National Electoral Council (CNE).

In Caracas’ Petare neighborhood, people marched chanting anti-Maduro slogans, and some masked youths tore down his campaign posters hanging from lampposts.

Heavily armed security forces stood just blocks away from the demonstration, which was peaceful.

“Will fall. it’s about to fall. This government will fall!” some of the protesters shouted as they walked.

People climbed onto rooftops and watched, banging pots and waving Venezuelan flags in support.

The National Electoral Council, which is loyal to Maduro’s ruling party, officially announced his victory on Monday, giving him a third six-year term as Venezuela’s leader.

Nicolas Maduro, who was today declared the winner of Sunday’s presidential election by the National Electoral Council (CNE), this evening denounced an attempt to impose a “coup” in Venezuela, as the opposition claims victory and much of the international community appears cautious.

“They are trying to impose a fascist and counter-revolutionary coup in Venezuela,” Maduro said in his speech at the CNE headquarters.

A little earlier, CNE president Elvis Amoroso, in a ceremony attended by Maduro, said that “Venezuelan people expressed their will by electing Nicolás Maduro (…) for the period 2025-2031”, who gathered “the majority of valid ballots ».

“We declare Nicolas Maduro Moros president of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela,” Amoroso added.