Maduro Declared Winner of Venezuelan Presidential Election

Despite several polls indicating opposition victory, Nicolas Maduro, the President of Venezuela, has won the presidential election for the third time with 51% of the votes. According to the Venezuelan electoral authorities, announced at midnight on Monday, opposition candidate Edmundo Gonzalez received 44% of the votes. After the results were announced, Maduro appeared before his supporters at the presidential palace, stating that his re-election is 'a victory for peace and stability' and emphasized that Venezuela's electoral system is 'transparent.' The opposition had previously claimed that voters were seeking change after 25 years of Socialist Party rule. Millions of Venezuelans voted in this controversial presidential election, which represents the biggest challenge for Nicolas Maduro, the current socialist president, in maintaining his party's power over the past 25 years. At 61 years old, Maduro is set to begin his third six-year presidential term in a country that was once wealthy but has seen its GDP decline by 80% over the past decade, forcing more than seven million of its 30 million citizens to emigrate. He has held power since 2013 and is accused of creating a climate of repression, imprisoning many opponents and critics. Independent polls indicated that the voting on Sunday could have ended 25 years of 'Chavismo,' the populist movement founded by former President Hugo Chávez. Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia replaced Maria Corina Machado, a popular opposition leader, after Venezuelan officials did not allow her to run. Machado, who has actively supported Gonzalez Urrutia, urged voters to remain at polling stations during the 'decisive hours' of vote counting to prevent fraud. Maduro, who had previously warned of a 'bloodbath' in the country if he lost the election, stated on Sunday that he would ensure the final election results were monitored. Chilean President Gabriel Boric commented on the results announced by the Venezuelan electoral authority, which declared Nicolas Maduro the winner with 51.2% of the votes, stating that 'it's hard to believe.' Boric wrote on social media that 'the Maduro regime must understand that the results they published are hardly believable.' He further called for complete transparency in the proceedings and emphasized that impartial international observers must verify the election results in Venezuela, adding that Chile would not recognize any unverifiable results.