Leon Marchand has the world file within the 400m particular person medley and gained the World Championships in that occasion in 2022 and 2023. He was lacking one factor – an Olympic gold medal. However now the French swimmer has that too.

Marchand led for your entire race and broke Michael Phelps’ Olympic file with a time of 4:02.95.

Swimming: Males’s 400 particular person medley podium

Gold medal: Leon Marchand, France
Silver medal: Tomoyuki Matsushita, Japan
Bronze medal: Carson Foster, USA

Earlier than Marchand was even introduced, the group at La Protection Area had been chanting his identify and singing “Marsellaise.” They erupted into cheers when he was introduced, and Marchand raised each arms and waved to the group.

As soon as he was within the pool, Marchand led for your entire race. He didn’t seem to have a weak stroke, as he by no means let any opponents again into the race. As soon as his win was official, Marchand sat on the lane divider and waved to the screaming crowds. He had a large smile on his face from the second he stepped onto the rostrum within the medal ceremony, and he closed his eyes for a second as he joined his compatriots in singing the nationwide anthem.

“The ambiance was wonderful, I do not know how you can clarify it. I had goosebumps earlier than, and in the course of the race too. On the breaststroke part I may hear everybody simply cheering for me. That was particular and successful at present was actually wonderful for me,” Marchand mentioned after the swim.

The true battle ended up coming for the silver and bronze medals. Japan’s Matsushita Tomoyuki out-touched Carson Foster from the U.S., with Matshushita successful by 0.04 seconds. Nice Britain’s Max Litchfield took fourth.

Chase Kalisz from the U.S., who gained gold within the 400 IM on the Olympic Video games Tokyo 2020, didn’t make the ultimate.

Mercedes’ George Russell has been disqualified from the Belgian Grand Prix, denying the Britain a 3rd profession victory.

George Russell was disqualified from the Belgian Grand Prix after his Mercedes was discovered to be underweight following the race, handing victory to teammate Lewis Hamilton.

A technical report launched after the race on Sunday mentioned Russell’s automotive was discovered to be 1.5kg under the minimal weight restrict for automotive and driver mixed.

“Automotive 63 is disqualified from the race classification,” the stewards introduced in a press release.

“All different drivers transfer up within the classification,” they added.

The 26-year-old Briton began in sixth place on the grid earlier than edging Hamilton in second and McLaren’s Oscar Piastri who got here third.

Russell drove the 44-laps race with just one pit cease which led to him going 34 laps on his second set of tyres, a strategic choice taken throughout the contest enabling him to take the lead and an sudden third profession victory.

“Heartbreaking,” Russell mentioned on social media.

“We got here in 1.5kg underweight and have been disqualified from the race.

“We left all of it on the observe in the present day and I take satisfaction in crossing the road first.

“There will likely be extra to come back,” he added.

Russell’s automotive was initially weighed at 798kg, which is strictly on the minimal weight restrict for automotive and driver mixed.

However stewards discovered the automotive had not been absolutely drained of gas.

“The automotive was weighed once more on the FIA inside and outdoors scales and the load was 796.5kg,” the assertion mentioned.

“The calibration of the inside and outside scales was confirmed and witnessed by the competitor.”

Consequently, Russell’s teammate Hamilton now takes the victory, the one hundred and fifth of his profession and second of the season.

Piastri takes second whereas Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc strikes on to the rostrum in third.

Sleepless nights, skipped meals and group crying classes have been the norm for the Canadian girls’s soccer group over an unforgettable opening week on the Paris Video games.

Host France practically delivered a knockout blow on Sunday evening. As an alternative it was the guests who performed just like the defending champions they’re.

Vanessa Gilles scored within the twelfth minute of harm time to present Canada a shocking 2-1 comeback victory and life within the event.

The outcome got here a day after FIFA docked the squad six factors — the equal of two wins — within the standings after a Canada Soccer drone spying scandal.

“We have now zero factors and we’re very comfortable,” stated Canadian goalkeeper Kailen Sheridan, who stoned Grace Geyoro in harm time to maintain the sport tied.

WATCH l Gilles’ late objective offers Canada 2-1 victory over host France:

Canada has an opportunity to advance if it may get again to the three-point mark with a victory in one other must-win sport Wednesday in opposition to Colombia in Good.

The eighth-ranked Canadians opened with a 2-1 win over New Zealand on Thursday. The outcome got here three days after a Canadian teaching analyst was caught utilizing a drone to spy on New Zealand’s practices.

It triggered a sequence of day by day information bulletins that put the squad within the highlight for all of the unsuitable causes.

Along with the docking of factors, three coaches — together with head coach Bev Priestman — had been banned for one 12 months and the federation was fined the equal of about $313,000.

The scandal hung over the Canadian group all week because the squad ready to defend the title it received three years in the past in Tokyo. There is no suggestion that the gamers had been concerned within the spying, however the fixed developments have been taxing.

“Generally the celebrities align even when the whole lot goes in opposition to you,” stated Gilles. “It is simply loads of pleasure. I’ve by no means felt so many feelings in a sport, even within the Olympic remaining.”

Marie-Antoinette Katoto scored within the forty second minute for the host facet and captain Jessie Fleming tallied for Canada within the 58th minute.

Needing the victory to have any hope of advancing, Canada pressed onerous after notching the equalizer.

With only one minute left in additional time, the vigorous crowd at Geoffroy-Guichard Stadium was hushed when a rebound from a Jordyn Huitema one-timer rolled to Gilles, who transformed a left-footed shot that glanced off the submit and in.

“I believe I used to be capable of repeat, ‘Simply body it, body it, body it’ about 50 instances earlier than I really hit the ball,” Gilles stated. “So it was positively a Matrix second.”

Earlier, Katoto flashed some slick footwork earlier than opening the scoring. She reduce inside on two Canadian defenders and slotted a low ball via Gilles’ legs that beat Sheridan contained in the submit.

Performing head coach Andy Spence turned to Adriana Leon as an alternative to begin the second half and it helped spark the Canadians. Simi Awujo had a great probability within the 54th minute earlier than Canada transformed within the 58th.

Huitema discovered Ashley Lawrence by the nook of the field and her low cross compelled goalkeeper Pauline Peyraud-Magnin to make a diving stab on the ball, which hit Fleming within the chest earlier than she tapped it in.

Peyraud-Magnin was hit within the face by a sliding defender on the play and brought off the sphere on a stretcher. She was changed by Constance Picaud.

‘We’re not cheaters, we’re rattling good gamers’

The prolonged delay pushed the harm time to 13 minutes. Canada wanted virtually all of them to finish a win that many gamers stated was essentially the most emotional victory they’ve ever skilled.

“Simply 12 hours in the past we had been in a circle crying our eyes out after listening to concerning the information,” Gilles stated after the match. “Punching partitions. Crying our eyes out once more. Laughing about it in delusion after which crying once more. It has been three days the place none of us have actually slept. None of us have been capable of actually eat. Numerous tears.

“We’re not cheaters, we’re rattling good gamers, we’re a rattling good group and we proved that right this moment,” Gilles added.

The gamers have tried to remain off social media and hold the distractions to a minimal. They will get pleasure from a well-earned off-day Monday as they journey to Good.

Fleming did have a look at her cellphone earlier Sunday to learn a text-message from retired celebrity and former group captain Christine Sinclair. It was a nice reminder that the help again residence stays robust.

“I believe it has introduced us nearer,” Fleming stated of the challenges. “It appears like us in opposition to the world proper now. All of our focus has simply been on one another as a result of that is all now we have to lean on proper now.”

Colombia 2, New Zealand 0

Colombia recovered from opening loss to France by beating New Zealand, 2-0, in Lyon.

Objectives from Marcela Restrepo and Leicy Santos secured the win that provisionally moved the Colombians stage on factors with France in Group A.

WATCH l FIFA deducts six factors from Canadian girls’s Olympic soccer group:

Canada’s girls’s soccer group docked factors, coaches suspended by FIFA

FIFA says it is deducting six factors from the Canadian girls’s Olympic soccer group and banning three coaches for one 12 months, together with head coach Bev Priestman. The choice comes after some employees members on the group had been accused of utilizing a drone to spy on different groups on the Olympics and different occasions.

World Cup quarterfinalist Colombia took an early lead via Restrepo within the twenty seventh and Santos sealed the win within the 72nd.

Regardless of back-to-back losses New Zealand remains to be above last-place Canada, which was handed a six-point deduction after the drone spying scandal.

United States 4, Germany 1

Sophia Smith scored a pair of targets to assist america beat Germany 4-1 and advance to the quarterfinals.

Mallory Swanson and Lynn Williams additionally scored for the People, who defeated Zambia 3-0 within the opener.

The People are enjoying their first main event below new coach Emma Hayes, who took over the U.S. group in late Could.

Hayes is tasked with main the People as they search to distance themselves from the frustration of final summer season’s Ladies’s World Cup, once they crashed out within the spherical of 16.

The US performs Australia in Marseille to conclude group play. Germany, which defeated Australia in its Olympic opener 3-0, performs Zambia in Saint-Etienne.

Australia 6, Zambia 5

Australia produced a shocking comeback to beat Zambia 6-5 in Good and enhance its possibilities of advancing to the quarterfinals the event.

Michelle Heyman’s objective within the ninetieth minute at Stade de Good settled an exciting match that Zambia led 5-2 early within the second half, with Barbra Banda scoring a first-half hat trick.

Zambia had been concerned within the highest scoring sport within the historical past of girls’s soccer on the Olympics — overwhelmed 10-3 by the Netherlands on the Tokyo Video games three years in the past, with Banda scoring a hat trick in that match too.

An personal objective by Ngambo Musole sparked Australia’s fightback within the 58th.

Two extra targets from Catley — a free kick within the sixty fifth and a penalty within the 78th — evened the rating and arrange the dramatic finale.

Japan 2, Brazil 1

Momoko Tanikawa scored a long-range objective deep in stoppage time to clinch Japan’s 2-1 comeback win over Brazil.

The spectacular objective adopted Saki Kumagai’s equalizer from the penalty spot after Yasmin was known as for a handball on the finish of regulation at Parc des Princes in Paris.

Brazil was main 1-0 after Jheniffer’s objective within the 56th minute till Japan’s late targets, capped with Tanikawa’s strike from properly exterior the highest of the field that caught Brazilian goalkeeper Lorena out of place.

Brazil began Marta, the group’s longtime captain who’s enjoying in her sixth Olympics.

A document six-time world participant of the 12 months, Marta has stated this can be her final main event with Brazil. Each time that the 38-year-old obtained a contact on the ball Sunday evening the Paris crowd cheered.

Japan misplaced its opening match 2-1 to Ladies’s World Cup winner Spain.

Spain 1, Nigeria 0

World champion Spain beat Nigeria 1-0 to make it two wins from two in Group C.

Alexia Putellas scored within the eighty fifth at Stade de la Beaujoire in Nantes to depart Spain three factors clear on the high of the group, forward of Japan and Brazil.

The sport was goalless getting in to the ultimate phases when Putellas curled an extended free kick previous goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie into the highest nook.

Russell’s automotive was weighed after the race and located to be on the minimal weight (798 kilograms), however after gasoline was drained from the Mercedes, it was discovered to be 1.5kg underweight.

The matter was referred to the stewards, who decided Russell’s automotive be disqualified.

“Automotive 63 was weighed on the FIA inside and outdoors scales with each scales exhibiting the identical results of 796.5kg,” a stewards’ assertion mentioned. “The calibration of each scales was confirmed and witnessed by the competitor.

“In the course of the listening to the crew consultant confirmed that the measurement is appropriate and that each one required procedures have been carried out accurately. The crew additionally acknowledged that there have been no mitigating circumstances and that it was a real error by the crew.

“The stewards decide that Article 4.1 of the FIA System One Technical Laws has been breached and due to this fact the usual penalty for such an infringement must be utilized.

“Rivals are reminded that they’ve the suitable to enchantment sure selections of the stewards, in accordance with Article 15 of the FIA Worldwide Sporting Code and Chapter 4 of the FIA Judicial and Disciplinary Guidelines, inside the relevant deadlines.”

Russell gained the race on a one-stop technique, that means he made a single set of tyres final 34 laps whereas others made an additional cease.

The bodily put on of the 4 tyres can account for the automotive’s total weight reduction over a protracted stint, though groups often issue that into their calculations earlier than the race.

One other issue distinctive to the Belgian Grand Prix is that the size of the Spa-Francorchamps lap means drivers don’t full a cool-down lap after the chequered lap and as a substitute flip into the pit lane exit instantly after Flip 1.

The absence of a cool-down lap means drivers can not decide up discarded rubber on their tyres, which is customary process after a race to assist exchange any misplaced weight.

“Heartbreaking. … We left all of it on the observe at present and I take delight in crossing the road first,” Russell mentioned in a submit on social media after the race. “There will probably be extra to come back.”

Talking earlier than the stewards’ determination, Mercedes crew principal Toto Wolff mentioned his crew must settle for a disqualification if it occurs.

“It’s important to take it on the chin,” he mentioned. “If the stewards determine towards ourselves, it’s what it’s, a mistake has occurred, or might have occurred, and one-two would have been an ideal end result going into the summer time break. It would not go any higher.

“The constructive, the very constructive we will take from this race is we had two vehicles that have been the benchmark on this race, with two completely different methods. Who would have mentioned that a couple of months in the past? That’s actually good to see.”

Requested if something was broken on Russell’s automotive, which could have contributed to it being underweight, Wolff added: “No, I feel it is a one-stop that … you count on lack of rubber, perhaps extra, however it’s no excuse.

“If … if the stewards deem it to be a breach of laws, then it’s what it’s, and we’ve got to be taught from that, and as a crew, given there are extra positives to take, for George, however that is a large blow for a driver when his childhood dream is profitable these races, then to be informed it is taken away. However he will win many extra.”

Eleanor Harvey est devenue la première médaillée olympique canadienne en escrime.

À 29 ans, elle a remporté la médaille de bronze en fleuret individuel féminin le jour 2 des Jeux de Paris 2024, battant l’Italienne Alice Volpi 15-12 lors du match pour la troisième place. Volpi est la quatrième fleurettiste au classement mondial, tandis que Harvey est arrivée aux Jeux classée 14e.

Cependant, Harvey avait un avantage psychologique en entrant dans le match, ayant remporté quatre de leurs sept rencontres précédentes, y compris la plus récente en mai 2022.

Après sa défaite 15-9 en demi-finale contre l’Américaine Lauren Scruggs, Harvey est passée à l’attaque dès le début du match. Elle a pris une avance de 3-0 avant que Volpi ne marque son premier level. Harvey a rapidement porté le rating à 6-1, puis après que Volpi ait réduit l’écart, elle a pris l’avance 8-3 avec une minute restante dans la première des trois périodes de 3 minutes.

Peu importe les tentatives de Volpi pour franchir la défense de Harvey, la Canadienne a tenu bon et est entrée dans la première pause avec un rating de 9-4, n’étant plus qu’à six factors des 15 nécessaires pour la victoire.

Harvey a entamé la deuxième période de la même manière, avec un level rapide dès les premières secondes. Avec un rating de 12-10 en sa faveur et un peu plus d’une minute écoulée dans la période, Volpi a demandé un temps d’arrêt médical, semblant souffrir de crampes. Lorsque le match a repris, Harvey voyait déjà la médaille de bronze à portée de most important. Elle a porté le rating à 13-10 en sa faveur, puis à 14-11, ce qui la laissait à un level de la victoire. Volpi n’a pu réduire l’écart qu’à 14-12 avant que Harvey n’obtienne le 15e level qui l’a inscrite dans l’histoire canadienne.

Lors de ses débuts olympiques à Rio 2016, Harvey avait déjà réalisé le meilleur résultat olympique canadien dans une épreuve individuelle d’escrime, se classant septième en fleuret féminin après avoir battu la numéro un mondiale.

CP Picture/Christinne Muschi

Fencer Eleanor Harvey deliberate to maintain her cool at Paris 2024. It’s paid off with Canada’s first ever Olympic medal in fencing.

Coming into these Video games, Harvey’s seventh-place end at Rio 2016 was Canada’s best-ever particular person lead to Olympic fencing. Now, with a bronze within the girls’s particular person foil, the 29-year-old from Hamilton, Ont. has set a brand new normal.

“I really feel like I’m in a dream,” stated Harvey, who entered these Video games ranked 14th on this planet. “I nonetheless can’t imagine it.”

Eight years in the past in Brazil, she exceeded expectations by upsetting the world’s top-ranked participant. This yr in Paris, she defeated higher-seeded opponents within the desk of 16, quarterfinals and the bronze medal bout.

The difference-maker for Harvey, competing on the historic Grand Palais, could have been her potential to remain composed below stress.

Conserving her cool

Within the bronze-medal bout towards Italy’s Alice Volpi, Harvey constructed up a 9-4 lead after the primary interval. The Italian surged to stage the rating at 10-10 within the second interval, and appeared poised to take the lead.

However Harvey caught together with her counterattacking method and gained the subsequent three factors. She would go on to win 15-12.

“After I scored the final level I couldn’t imagine it,” stated Harvey. “It’s a really unusual, surreal feeling.”

READ: Fares Arfa downs 3-time Olympic champion, earns finest ever Canadian fencing consequence

Earlier on Day 2, Harvey discovered herself at 14-14 within the quarterfinals towards one other Italian, Martina Favaretto. The subsequent level would decide the winner. Harvey slowed down and discovered from what had occurred earlier within the bout.

“I understood what was occurring and I used to be capable of hold a reasonably stage head, even at 14-14,” she stated. “I’ve [panicked] earlier than and I remorse it each time. I wished to enter this event, win or lose, and do my finest to maintain my composure. If I lose that approach, I can dwell with that. If I lose and I really feel like I beat myself, that haunts me.”

Household assist

She gained’t want to fret about any ghosts from these Video games. As an alternative, she will be able to have a good time in France together with her mom, who wasn’t capable of watch her compete at Tokyo 2020 on account of pandemic restrictions.

“She’s made a variety of sacrifices for me,” stated Harvey. “So it’s actually, actually cool that she was capable of be right here and watch me have the perfect fencing results of my life.”

Harvey, who started fencing at age 10, says her mom needed to promote her home to afford sending her to tournaments. The pair moved in with Harvey’s grandmother.

“My grandma would sleep on a sofa, in order that I may have a mattress,” stated Harvey. “So it’s not simply my mother.”

Certainly, Harvey now has a complete nation supporting her, with the entire added stress that entails. But when the Paris Video games are any indication, she will be able to deal with it.

USWNT vs. Germany – Paris 2024 Olympics – Group B
Date: July 28, 2024
Venue: Stade de Marseille; Marseille, France
Broadcast: USA Community, Telemundo, Peacock
Official Kickoff Time: 9 p.m. native / 3 p.m. ET

Beginning XI vs. Germany: 1-Alyssa Naeher; 2-Emily Fox, 4-Naomi Girma, 5-Trinity Rodman, 7-Crystal Dunn, 9-Mallory Swanson, 10-Lindsey Horan (Capt.), 11-Sophia Smith, 12-Tierna Davidson, 16-Rose Lavelle, 17-Sam Coffey

Out there Subs: 3-Korbin Albert, 6-Casey Krueger, 8-Lynn Williams, 13-Jenna Nighswonger, 14-Emily Sonnett, 18-Casey Murphy, 20-Croix Bethune

GAME NOTES| FIVE THINGS TO KNOW

• USWNT Beginning XI Cap Numbers (Together with this match): Horan (152), Dunn (151), Naeher (108), Lavelle (103), Swanson (96), Davidson (62), Fox (53), Smith (52), Rodman (42), Girma (36), Coffey (21)
• The beginning lineup to face Germany is similar to the XI that opened the Olympics towards Zambia.
• Lindsey Horan will earn her 152nd cap as she captains the U.S. for the thirtieth time in her profession. Horan leads the U.S. with 1,002 minutes performed this yr and shall be making her team-leading thirteenth begin of 2024. Together with her two assists towards Zambia, Horan turned fifth participant in USWNT historical past with a number of assists in an Olympic match and now has three assists in her final two Olympic appearances relationship again to the bronze medal match in Tokyo.
• Alyssa Naeher will make her 108th worldwide look as she makes her eleventh begin of 2024. Naeher has stored a clear sheet in every of her final three outings for the USWNT on the World Cup and Olympics, relationship again to the third group stage match of the 2023 Ladies’s World Cup, and has 9 shutouts in 17 whole matches at world championships.
• Though she didn’t see motion in that match, Naeher, who spent two seasons taking part in in Germany for Turbine Potsdam, is the one participant on this present squad who was on the roster for the 2015 World Cup semifinal towards Germany, which marked the final assembly between the groups at a World Cup or Olympics.
• Emily Fox will make her eleventh begin of 2024 as she earns her 53rd cap for the USWNT. Fox was one in every of seven gamers to make their Olympic debut towards Zambia and has been a mainstay on the American backline, rating second on the crew in whole minutes performed following the conclusion of the Tokyo Olympics, trailing solely Horan.
• Naomi Girma is ready to earn her thirty sixth cap as she makes her tenth look – and tenth begin – of 2024. Relationship again to the 2023 FIFA Ladies’s World Cup, Girma has now performed each minute of the final 5 matches for the USWNT on the World Cup and Olympics – the one discipline participant to take action – and has gone the space in 27 of her 35 profession matches for the USWNT.
• After scoring the opening purpose for the USWNT at these 2024 Olympics, Trinity Rodman will make her fourth consecutive begin and thirty second consecutive look general for the USWNT. Rodman turned the seventh participant in USWNT historical past to attain on her Olympics debut and the primary to take action since Alex Morgan in 2012. The 22-year-old additionally turned the youngest participant to attain for the USWNT at a world championship since a 21-year-old Mallory Swanson scored towards Thailand within the USA’s opening win on the 2019 FIFA Ladies’s World Cup.
• Crystal Dunn will earn her 151st cap as she makes her seventeenth consecutive begin for the USWNT in World Cup or Olympic match, a streak that started with the USA’s third group stage match towards Sweden on the 2019 FIFA Ladies’s World Cup. Dunn’s streak of 17 consecutive begins at world championship occasions is the longest by any USWNT discipline participant since Christie Pearce made 27 consecutive begins spanning from the 2004 Olympic quarterfinal by means of the 2012 gold medal match.
• Mallory Swanson, who enters the second Olympic matchday tied atop the match scoring charts with France’s Marie-Antoinette Katoto, will make her 96th worldwide look and her fourth profession begin on the Olympics. Swanson’s two targets in 70 seconds had been the quickest two targets ever scored by a USWNT participant at a world championship and the quickest between targets within the historical past of the Olympic Ladies’s Soccer Event.
• Swanson now has six purpose involvements (4 targets, 2 assists) in seven matches for the USWNT since coming back from damage and her 36 worldwide targets are tied with Tobin Heath for sixteenth all-time in USWNT historical past.
• Sophia Smith, who scored the equalizing purpose within the USA’s most up-to-date matchup towards Germany on Nov. 13, 2022, will make her 52nd worldwide look and her sixth consecutive begin for the USWNT on the World Cup or Olympics. Smith assisted Swanson’s second purpose of the sport on Thursday towards Zambia, which marked her fourth purpose contribution in 5 profession matches at world championship occasions (2 targets, 2 assists). Smith leads the U.S. with eight whole purpose involvements (5 targets, 3 assists) in 2024.
• Tierna Davidson will earn her 62nd cap as she makes her eleventh look – and eleventh begin – of 2024. Davidson, who was the youngest member of the 2019 World Cup champions and the youngest on the USA’s 18-player roster for Tokyo 2020, performed all however half-hour in every of her 10 appearances for the USA up to now this yr. Davidson frolicked coaching in Germany with VfL Wolfsburg in early 2023 as she returned to kind and health after tearing her ACL in March of 2022.
• The fourth-most skilled participant on this Olympic roster, Rose Lavelle will make her 103rd worldwide look as she makes her eighth look all-time on the Olympic Video games. Lavelle appeared in all six of the USA’s matches on the delayed Tokyo 2020 Olympics and scored her first Olympic purpose within the USA’s group stage win over New Zealand.
• One in all 5 gamers to seem in each match for the USWNT up to now this yr, Sam Coffey will earn her twenty first cap as she makes her twelfth begin of 2024. The one participant on this beginning lineup who entered the Olympics with none prior world championship expertise, Coffey is third on the crew in whole minutes performed this yr (933 minutes), triple her whole minutes of motion from her first two years with the USWNT mixed (301 minutes from 2022-23).
• Ahead Jaedyn Shaw (leg damage) stays unavailable for choice and is as soon as once more changed on the matchday squad by alternate Croix Bethune.

(Caracas) Au moins une personne est morte d’après une ONG dans une des manifestations spontanées qui ont éclaté lundi au Venezuela, ponctuées d’échauffourées avec les forces de l’ordre, après la réélection du président Nicolas Maduro qui suscite le scepticisme de la communauté internationale, l’opposition affirmant de son côté pouvoir « prouver » sa victoire.

« Au moins une personne a été tuée dans [l’État de] Yaracuy et 46 personnes sont détenues » à la suite des évènements postélectoraux, a écrit sur X Alfredo Romero, directeur de l’ONG Foro Penal, spécialisée dans la défense des prisonniers politiques.

« Qu’il rende le pouvoir maintenant », ont lancé lundi des milliers de manifestants dans plusieurs quartiers pauvres de Caracas, certains brûlant des affiches à l’effigie du président, ont constaté des journalistes de l’AFP.

« C’est la fraude la plus huge au monde », s’insurge Luis Garcia, 23 ans, dans la foule des protestataires à Pétaré, dans l’est de Caracas.

« Pour la liberté de notre pays ! Pour l’avenir de nos enfants. Que Maduro s’en aille ! », crie Marina Sugey, 42 ans.

Les manifestants, qui ont lancé des pierres, ont été dispersés par des tirs de grenades lacrymogènes alors qu’ils se rapprochaient du centre de la capitale.

Nicolas Maduro a été officiellement proclamé lundi président du Venezuela par le Conseil nationwide électoral (CNE).

Balayant les critiques de l’opposition et de la communauté internationale, M. Maduro a dénoncé une tentative d’imposer un « coup d’État fasciste au Venezuela ».

« Preuves de la victoire »

Lundi soir, la cheffe de l’opposition vénézuélienne Maria Corina Machado, qui n’avait pu se présenter au scrutin automotive déclarée inéligible par le pouvoir, a assuré lors d’une conférence de presse que l’opposition avait les moyens de « prouver » la victoire de son candidat Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia, discret diplomate qui l’avait remplacée au pied levé.

L’opposition a réuni 73 % des bordereaux de résultats des bureaux de vote et selon elle, M. Gonzalez Urrutia a obtenu 6,27 thousands and thousands de voix, contre 2,7 thousands and thousands au président sortant Nicolas Maduro, proclamé vainqueur par le CNE.  

M^me Machado a affirmé que ces « preuves de la victoire » ont été fournies à « des dirigeants » dans le monde et qu’elles seraient mises en ligne pendant la nuit.

La veille, le chef du CNE avait dénoncé une « agression contre le système de transmission des données qui a retardé » le décompte. Ces décomptes par bureaux de vote que réclament l’opposition et la communauté internationale ne sont pas disponibles.  

Lundi, le parquet a ouvert une enquête, évoquant l’implication de M^me Machado dans ce « piratage ».

Selon les résultats officiels du CNE, M. Maduro, 61 ans, l’héritier de l’ancien président Hugo Chavez (1999-2013), a été réélu pour un troisième mandat consécutif de six ans avec 5,15 thousands and thousands de voix (51,2 %).

Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia, 74 ans, en a recueilli un peu moins de 4,5 thousands and thousands (44,2 %), d’après le CNE.

L’opposition, qui espérait mettre fin à 25 années de pouvoir chaviste, avait aussitôt rejeté ce résultat.

« Nous allons nous battre pour notre liberté », a assuré lundi soir M. Gonzalez Urrutia, rappelant à « toutes les establishments » leur « devoir constitutionnel de respecter la volonté populaire ».

Il a néanmoins estimé que les « manifestations » du jour ne contribuaient pas à « l’objectif ». À ses côtés, M^me Machado a préféré appeler à des « assemblées populaires » mardi à travers le pays.  

« Dissiper les doutes »

Si M. Maduro a reçu le soutien de la Russie et de la Chine ainsi que de ses alliés habituels (Cuba, Nicaragua, Honduras et Bolivie), il semble être isolé avec l’afflux de réactions négatives ou sceptiques de la communauté internationale.  

Neuf pays d’Amérique latine (Argentine, Costa Rica, Équateur, Guatemala, Panama, Paraguay, Pérou, République dominicaine, Uruguay) ont ainsi appelé dans une déclaration commune à un « réexamen complet avec la présence d’observateurs électoraux indépendants ».

Le Brésil et la Colombie, deux pays de gauche, ont demandé une vérification du dépouillement alors que les États-Unis ont affirmé « craindre que le résultat annoncé ne reflète pas la volonté ou le vote du peuple vénézuélien ».

Le chef de la diplomatie de l’UE, Josep Borrell, et la France ont appelé à la « transparence totale », demandant l’intégralité des procès-verbaux et des résultats.

Caracas a réagi à cette levée de boucliers en retirant son personnel diplomatique de sept pays d’Amérique latine (Argentine, Chili, Costa Rica, Panama, Pérou, République dominicaine et Uruguay), estimant que leur place « porte atteinte à la souveraineté nationale ».

Le Venezuela a aussi annoncé suspendre à partir de mercredi les vols avec le Panama et la République dominicaine, dénonçant des « actions d’ingérence » de ces gouvernements.

« Ce n’est pas le résultat idéal pour Maduro », a estimé Rebecca Hanson, de l’Université de Floride. « En termes d’acquisition d’une certaine légitimité internationale – ce qui était un objectif de M. Maduro –, cette élection a été un désastre ».

Intimidations

La campagne et le scrutin se sont déroulés dans une ambiance tendue, l’opposition dénonçant de nombreuses intimidations et arrestations.  

Caracas avait limité la possibilité d’observer le déroulement du scrutin. Le Centre Carter, un des rares observateurs indépendants présents, a appelé le CNE à publier les résultats du scrutin de dimanche dans chaque bureau de vote.

Le Venezuela, longtemps un des plus riches pays d’Amérique latine, est exsangue : effondrement de la manufacturing pétrolière, PIB réduit de 80 % en dix ans, pauvreté, systèmes de santé et éducatif totalement délabrés. Sept thousands and thousands de Vénézuéliens ont fui leur pays.

Le pouvoir accuse le « blocus criminel » d’être à l’origine de tous les maux : les États-Unis avaient durci leurs sanctions pour tenter d’évincer M. Maduro après sa réélection déjà contestée de 2018, un scrutin entaché de fraudes selon l’opposition, qui avait débouché sur des manifestations sévèrement réprimées.