All You Want to know about Venezuelan Election
Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro declared victory in the early hours of Monday morning in the country’s presidential election, despite opposition claims that their candidate, Edmundo Gonzalez, was the true winner.
Election Results and Dispute
The National Electoral Council (CNE) announced just after midnight that Maduro had secured a third six-year term with 51% of the vote. The council reported that Gonzalez received 44%. However, opposition leader Maria Corina Machado asserted that Gonzalez had actually won 70% of the vote, supported by multiple independent exit polls and quick counts.
Gonzalez, who urged his supporters to remain peaceful, refrained from calling for street protests or violence. Machado stated that the opposition possessed copies of approximately 40% of the voting records, providing evidence of their claims.
Poll Predictions
Edison Research, renowned for its polling of U.S. elections, predicted in an exit poll that Gonzalez would win 65% of the vote, while Maduro would secure 31%. Local firm Meganalisis also predicted a 65% vote share for Gonzalez and just under 14% for Maduro.
Voting Conditions
The government described the voting process as generally peaceful, with only isolated minor incidents. However, motorcycle-riding ruling party supporters, known as ‘collectives,’ briefly clashed with opposition supporters outside the largest polling place in central Caracas. Armed collectives were reported in at least six other locations, with one man reportedly killed in the border state of Tachira during a confrontation.
The election campaign was marked by the arrests of opposition figures and other actions by authorities, which the opposition claimed were intended to prevent a fair election.
Background on Candidates
Maduro, who has been in power since the death of his mentor Hugo Chavez in 2013, has presided over significant economic and social decline in Venezuela. The U.S. reimposed oil sanctions in April, accusing Maduro of failing to adhere to agreements with the opposition to ensure free elections.
Gonzalez, a 74-year-old former diplomat, is a long-time but low-profile member of the opposition. He was registered as a placeholder candidate in March and became the opposition’s definitive candidate in April. Machado, 56, has actively campaigned for Gonzalez, emphasizing the hope for Venezuelans who have emigrated to return home.
International Response
The United States expressed serious concerns over the election results, with Secretary of State Antony Blinken requesting a detailed tabulation of votes. Reactions from Latin American leaders varied, with Argentine President Javier Milei calling the official result fraud, while Costa Rica and Peru rejected it. Chile stated it would not accept any unverifiable result. In contrast, Cuba, Honduras, and Bolivia celebrated Maduro’s victory.
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