Venezuela’s Maduro calls for state ‘iron fist’ after deadly protests against his re-election

Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro called Monday for the state to use an “iron fist” after deadly protests in response to his July reelection, dismissed at home and abroad as a sham.

As the official protest death toll rose to 25, Maduro urged “severe justice” for violence he blames on the opposition, which insists its candidate Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia had won the July 28 vote by a landslide.

“I demand from all the powers of state greater speed, greater efficiency and an iron fist against crime, against violence, against hate crimes,” the socialist leader told a defense council meeting.

Widespread protests broke out after Maduro was declared president-elect by the CNE electoral council seen as loyal to his regime.

Observers reported a brutal security force crackdown with more than 2,000 arrests.

Maduro, in turn, blames Gonzalez Urrutia and popular opposition leader Maria Corina Machado — who was ruled out of running for the presidency by institutions aligned to the state.

Read more: France 24