Nicolás Maduro has been declared the winner of Venezuela’s presidential election by the government-controlled electoral authority, dashing opposition hopes of ending 25 years of socialist rule. The national electoral council reported that Maduro secured 51.21% of the votes compared to 44.2% for his rival, Edmundo González Urrutia, after a six-hour delay in releasing the results.
Opposition and International Reactions
The announcement was met with immediate contestation from opposition leaders and several governments in the region. Independent observers criticized the election as the most arbitrary in recent years. Opposition leader María Corina Machado, who supported González’s campaign, rejected the results, claiming the opposition had won in every state.
International Condemnation
Several countries, including the United States, Chile, Peru, Costa Rica, and Uruguay, condemned the election results. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken expressed serious concerns, stating that the announced results did not reflect the will of the Venezuelan people. Chilean President Gabriel Boric and Peru’s Foreign Minister Javier González-Olaechea echoed similar sentiments, questioning the credibility of the results.
Maduro’s Response and Support
Maduro, addressing his supporters in Caracas, declared his commitment to defending democracy and dedicated his victory to his late mentor, Hugo Chávez. Maduro’s allies, including Cuban leader Miguel Díaz-Canel and Bolivian President Luis Arce, celebrated the result, praising it as a triumph of the Venezuelan people.
Election Context and Voter Sentiments
The election, held on what would have been Chávez’s 70th birthday, saw a significant turnout from opposition voters hoping for change amid Venezuela’s severe economic and social crises. Despite widespread skepticism about the fairness of the vote, many citizens participated, driven by a desire for a better future and an end to the country’s ongoing struggles.
As Venezuela faces international scrutiny and internal dissent over the contested election results, the future of its political landscape remains uncertain. The divided reactions underscore the deep-rooted challenges and the intense desire for change among many Venezuelans.