Nicolas Maduro
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has been re-elected for a third term, according to the country’s election authority, which announced the results on Sunday.
Maduro secured 51.2% of the vote, while his main opposition candidate, Edmundo Gonzalez, received 44%.
This re-election was marked by Maduro’s appearance at the presidential palace, where he addressed cheering supporters and declared his victory as a triumph of peace and stability.
He also reiterated his campaign claim that Venezuela’s electoral system is transparent and fair.
However, the election results have been met with significant skepticism and controversy. An exit poll conducted by Edison Research, known for its work on U.S. elections, had predicted that Gonzalez would win with 65% of the vote, leaving Maduro with only 31%.
Similarly, local polling firm Meganalisis forecasted a 65% vote share for Gonzalez and just under 14% for Maduro.
The national electoral council (CNE) President, Elvis Amoroso, stated that about 80% of ballot boxes had been counted.
He attributed delays in announcing the results to what he described as an “aggression” against the electoral data transmission system.
Amoroso announced that the CNE had requested the attorney general to investigate these “terrorist actions” and reported a voter participation rate of 59%.
The opposition had been calling for a change in leadership after 25 years of socialist party rule.
Edmundo Gonzalez, the opposition candidate, expressed his belief that the election results were being concealed, stating on social media before the results were announced, “The country has peacefully chosen a change.”
Opposition leader Maria Corina Machado also took to social media, urging the Venezuelan military to support the call for change.
She emphasized that the military had a crucial role in determining the future of Venezuela, urging them to align with the people’s wishes.
The Venezuelan military has historically supported Maduro, and there have been no visible signs of dissent from the armed forces.
In response to the election results, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken expressed “serious concerns” about the accuracy of the outcome.
Speaking from Japan, Blinken stated, “We have serious concerns that the result announced does not reflect the will or the votes of the Venezuelan people.”
This international reaction highlights the ongoing controversy and dispute surrounding the election process and its legitimacy.
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