03:03Mandatory credit: VPSSPSP
Venezuela's Defence Minister Vladimir Padrino Lopez claimed the country was 'in the presence of a coup d'etat' following opposition protests over the election victory of Nicolas Maduro, during in a press conference in Caracas on Tuesday.
"We are in the presence, simply put, of a coup d'etat. A coup d'etat forged once again by fascist factors, by the extremist right wing," he said.
"The people decided on a candidate and yesterday, the National Electoral Council proclaimed him for the next presidential term 2025-2032," Lopez continued. "They have voted for peace."
Lopez stated that the armed forces reiterated an 'unwavering commitment to peace', but "will act with forcefulness in perfect civic-military-police union to preserve internal order throughout the national territory."
"We call on the citizens not to fall into provocations or manipulations that foment violence and intolerance," he said. "We reaffirm the most absolute loyalty and unconditional support to citizen Nicolas Maduro Moros, Constitutional President of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, our Commander in Chief, who has been legitimately reelected by the People's Power and proclaimed by the Electoral Power for the next presidential term 2025-2031."
Maduro himself claimed the opposition was attempting a 'colour revolution', which he alleged had US involvement.
Protests and celebrations have been seen across Venezuela and throughout the world. While Russia, China, and others congratulated Maduro, the US said it had 'serious concerns' about the vote. The opposition also claimed it won with more than 70 percent of the votes cast, although it did not provide any evidence.
Sunday's win marks Maduro's third consecutive election victory. He has been in power since 2013, while his United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV) has governed the country since 2007.
Maduro's main opponent was Edmundo Gonzalez, a 74-year-old former diplomat. Opposition frontrunner Maria Corina Machado backed Gonzalez after she was banned from taking part amid corruption allegations which she denies. Around 17 million people were eligible to vote.
'We're in the presence of a coup d'etat' - Venezuela's DefMin as protests against Maduro's victory continue
Venezuela's Defence Minister Vladimir Padrino Lopez claimed the country was 'in the presence of a coup d'etat' following opposition protests over the election victory of Nicolas Maduro, during in a press conference in Caracas on Tuesday.
"We are in the presence, simply put, of a coup d'etat. A coup d'etat forged once again by fascist factors, by the extremist right wing," he said.
"The people decided on a candidate and yesterday, the National Electoral Council proclaimed him for the next presidential term 2025-2032," Lopez continued. "They have voted for peace."
Lopez stated that the armed forces reiterated an 'unwavering commitment to peace', but "will act with forcefulness in perfect civic-military-police union to preserve internal order throughout the national territory."
"We call on the citizens not to fall into provocations or manipulations that foment violence and intolerance," he said. "We reaffirm the most absolute loyalty and unconditional support to citizen Nicolas Maduro Moros, Constitutional President of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, our Commander in Chief, who has been legitimately reelected by the People's Power and proclaimed by the Electoral Power for the next presidential term 2025-2031."
Maduro himself claimed the opposition was attempting a 'colour revolution', which he alleged had US involvement.
Protests and celebrations have been seen across Venezuela and throughout the world. While Russia, China, and others congratulated Maduro, the US said it had 'serious concerns' about the vote. The opposition also claimed it won with more than 70 percent of the votes cast, although it did not provide any evidence.
Sunday's win marks Maduro's third consecutive election victory. He has been in power since 2013, while his United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV) has governed the country since 2007.
Maduro's main opponent was Edmundo Gonzalez, a 74-year-old former diplomat. Opposition frontrunner Maria Corina Machado backed Gonzalez after she was banned from taking part amid corruption allegations which she denies. Around 17 million people were eligible to vote.
Mandatory credit: VPSSPSP
Venezuela's Defence Minister Vladimir Padrino Lopez claimed the country was 'in the presence of a coup d'etat' following opposition protests over the election victory of Nicolas Maduro, during in a press conference in Caracas on Tuesday.
"We are in the presence, simply put, of a coup d'etat. A coup d'etat forged once again by fascist factors, by the extremist right wing," he said.
"The people decided on a candidate and yesterday, the National Electoral Council proclaimed him for the next presidential term 2025-2032," Lopez continued. "They have voted for peace."
Lopez stated that the armed forces reiterated an 'unwavering commitment to peace', but "will act with forcefulness in perfect civic-military-police union to preserve internal order throughout the national territory."
"We call on the citizens not to fall into provocations or manipulations that foment violence and intolerance," he said. "We reaffirm the most absolute loyalty and unconditional support to citizen Nicolas Maduro Moros, Constitutional President of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, our Commander in Chief, who has been legitimately reelected by the People's Power and proclaimed by the Electoral Power for the next presidential term 2025-2031."
Maduro himself claimed the opposition was attempting a 'colour revolution', which he alleged had US involvement.
Protests and celebrations have been seen across Venezuela and throughout the world. While Russia, China, and others congratulated Maduro, the US said it had 'serious concerns' about the vote. The opposition also claimed it won with more than 70 percent of the votes cast, although it did not provide any evidence.
Sunday's win marks Maduro's third consecutive election victory. He has been in power since 2013, while his United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV) has governed the country since 2007.
Maduro's main opponent was Edmundo Gonzalez, a 74-year-old former diplomat. Opposition frontrunner Maria Corina Machado backed Gonzalez after she was banned from taking part amid corruption allegations which she denies. Around 17 million people were eligible to vote.