Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has been officially declared the winner of the nation’s disputed presidential election, securing a third six-year term. The National Electoral Council, aligned with Maduro’s ruling party, announced the results amidst widespread controversy and opposition claims of electoral fraud.
The official results showed Maduro receiving 51% of the vote, while opposition candidate Edmundo González garnered 44%. However, the opposition and international observers expressed doubts about the transparency and fairness of the election. The delay in releasing detailed vote tallies has further fueled suspicions, with many Venezuelans and international actors awaiting clarification.
Protests erupted shortly after the announcement, with thousands taking to the streets of Caracas and other regions. Demonstrators, frustrated by years of economic hardship and political repression, called for Maduro’s ouster. In Petare, Caracas’ largest poor neighborhood, protestors dismantled Maduro’s campaign posters and chanted for freedom. Despite the tension, the protests remained largely peaceful, with heavy police presence observed nearby.
The international response has been cautious. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken voiced “serious concerns” over the election’s legitimacy, and Chilean President Gabriel Boric described the results as “difficult to believe.” Many countries, including members of the European Union, have withheld recognition of the election outcome, awaiting further information.
Maduro’s re-election comes amid a backdrop of severe economic crisis in Venezuela. The country, despite having the world’s largest oil reserves, has suffered from hyperinflation, shortages of basic goods, and a massive exodus of citizens seeking better opportunities abroad. The opposition, led by González and backed by former candidate María Corina Machado, campaigned on promises of economic reform and job creation.
Maduro’s administration, however, insists on its legitimacy and has warned against any attempts to destabilize the country. The president, in a televised speech, emphasized the need for law and order, accusing the opposition of attempting a coup.
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