Caracas/Panjab Post
Nicolás Maduro has been officially declared the winner of Venezuela’s presidential election, but the announcement is marred by allegations of voting irregularities and a significant dispute from the opposition. The National Electoral Council reported early Monday that Maduro received 51% of the vote, while his main challenger, Edmundo González, secured 44%.
The delay in releasing detailed vote counts from over 30,000 polling stations has fueled skepticism. The electoral authority, which is known for its ties to Maduro’s administration, has yet to provide a complete breakdown, leading the opposition to question the integrity of the process. They have cited having data from only 30% of the ballot boxes, raising concerns about the transparency of the election.
International leaders have been cautious in their response, with Chilean President Gabriel Boric questioning the credibility of the reported results. “The Maduro regime should understand that the results it published are difficult to believe,” Boric said. “We will not recognize any outcome that lacks proper verification.”
The delay of six hours in announcing the results, which came after polls had closed, suggests internal government contention over how to handle the situation. During his victory speech, Maduro accused foreign adversaries of attempting to interfere with the election. “This is not the first time they have tried to disrupt the peace of the republic,” he stated.
As Venezuela awaits further verification, the political landscape remains tense, with the opposition gearing up to challenge the results and the international community holding off on official recognition.