President Nicolás Maduro has been declared the winner of Venezuela’s presidential election on Sunday, even as the opposition prepares to dispute the results.
The National Electoral Council announced that Maduro secured 51% of the vote, surpassing the main opposition candidate, Edmundo González, who received 44%.
However, the electoral authority, which is controlled by Maduro loyalists, did not immediately release the tallies from each of the 30,000 polling booths nationwide, complicating the opposition’s ability to challenge the results.
Foreign leaders have withheld recognition of the results as the electoral council promised to release official tallies soon. The delay in announcing results indicated internal debates within the government, as opposition representatives reported tallies showing González leading. Maduro celebrated his victory with supporters at the presidential palace.
This election marks Maduro’s bid for a third term, facing his toughest challenge yet from González, a retired diplomat and last-minute candidate replacement for opposition leader Maria Corina Machado.
The opposition had been optimistic, celebrating preliminary tallies suggesting a win for González. The outcome of this election will have significant implications for Venezuela and the broader region, with many Venezuelans contemplating migration should Maduro continue his rule.
Authorities had scheduled the election on the birthday of former President Hugo Chávez, whose legacy Maduro continues to uphold amid growing unpopularity and economic hardship.
