Venezuela is set for fresh protests on Saturday following the ratification of President Nicolás Maduro's contentious election victory, with increasing international support for his opposition rival, María Corina Machado.

The National Electoral Council (CNE), loyal to Maduro, announced on Friday that he won the election with 52% of the vote, while opposition candidate Edmundo González Urrutia received 43%. However, several countries, including Argentina, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Panama, Uruguay, the United States, and Peru, have recognized González Urrutia as the legitimate winner, rejecting the official results.

Maduro has denounced allegations of electoral fraud as a "trap" set by Washington to justify a "coup," and has threatened both Machado and González Urrutia, suggesting they should be imprisoned.

Under Maduro's leadership since 2013, Venezuela has experienced severe economic decline, with a GDP drop of 80% and over seven million citizens emigrating. Critics attribute this crisis to economic mismanagement and U.S. sanctions.

González Urrutia failed to attend a Supreme Court hearing called by Maduro to review and certify the election results. Meanwhile, other opposition candidates have demanded a full public vote count, citing concerns about electoral rigging. The opposition has launched a website displaying 84% of ballots cast, indicating a win for González Urrutia, though the government dismisses these records as counterfeit.

Machado, barred from running herself, has called for nationwide rallies on Saturday to assert the opposition's victory, despite being in hiding and fearing for her safety. Maduro has countered with calls for daily mobilizations, including "the mother of all marches" to celebrate his victory, accusing the opposition of planning attacks on security forces during their protests.

The protests this week have led to at least 11 reported deaths and over 1,000 arrests, with some sources, including Machado, claiming that at least 20 people have been killed. Activists and opposition supporters are reportedly fearful of further violence and repression.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has expressed support for González Urrutia, citing "overwhelming evidence" of his victory and conveying concern for his and Machado's safety. Brazil, Colombia, and Mexico have called for an impartial verification of the results and the publication of detailed voting data.

Maduro, whose previous reelection in 2018 was widely contested, maintains support from the military, electoral bodies, and state institutions, as well as backing from Russia, China, and Cuba.