Venezuelan military high command throws support behind Maduro as loyalty of military brought into question

The leaders of the Venezuelan military reaffirmed their support for Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro amid a contested election that has split the country’s military.

The Venezuelan election results had Maduro winning, results Democratic Unitary Platform candidate Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia denounced as fraudulent, claiming victory as well. Mass protests broke out in the aftermath, leading to violence. The clashes with police have brought into question the loyalties of the military, with some videos published on social media showing military units sympathizing with or even defecting to protesters.

On Tuesday, the military high command reaffirmed its loyalty to Maduro, putting the military establishment firmly behind the incumbent president.

“We reaffirm the most absolute loyalty and unconditional support to Nicolas Maduro Moros, Constitutional President of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela. Our Commander in Chief, legitimately reelected by the People’s Power,” Defense Minister General Vladimir Padrino Lopez said in an address.

Lopez said there was a coup attempt against Maduro and that the military would move to “defeat” it.

“There is a coup in progress, so President Nicolás Maduro has stepped up to stop it again and with him the people who elected him president, all the institutions, the Bolivarian armed forces, and the democratic institutions,” he continued.

At the same time, videos emerged on social media showing soldiers interacting in a friendly manner with protesters, contrary to orders.

“If you can’t maintain order and peace, then I will have to take action myself to defend them,” a soldier told a group of protesters.

“With all due respect to the soldiers, the idea is not for the military to fight against its own people,” one of the protesters responded.

“If you respect us, we’ll respect you,” the soldier said.

Two separate videos appeared to show riot police mingling with protesters to cheers.

One video showed soldiers greeting and shaking hands with protesters to cheers.

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Most videos surfacing on social media show police, military, and pro-government paramilitaries fighting with protesters.

Maduro himself blamed the United States for the unrest, saying the “system that killed John F. Kennedy and attempted to kill Donald Trump is trying to sow civil strife in Venezuela.”

Ailin Vilches contributed to this report.

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