In the aftermath of Venezuela's presidential election, President Nicolás Maduro and the opposition both asserted victory, leading to a disputed outcome. With 80% of the votes counted, the National Electoral Council (CNE) declared Maduro the winner with over 51% of the vote, surpassing opposition candidate Edmundo González Urrutia, who received over 44%. However, opposition leader María Corina Machado contested these results, claiming their records showed González Urrutia had won with 70% of the vote. Machado emphasized the opposition's commitment to defending the truth and highlighted the international community's awareness of the situation in Venezuela.
Maduro's potential third six-year term would extend the "Chavismo" political movement's hold on power, which began in 1999 under former President Hugo Chávez. This election is particularly significant for Venezuela, a country recovering from a severe economic crisis. Maduro has blamed foreign sanctions for the country's economic woes, while the opposition has vowed to revive Venezuela's democracy and economy if elected.
Concerns about the fairness of the election have been widespread, given Maduro's government's control over all public institutions, including the Supreme Court, which could ultimately decide on any allegations of electoral fraud. The opposition's strong challenge to Maduro's rule represents the most significant threat to his power in years.
The Venezuelan government has been accused of election fraud, which it has denied. The election saw a high turnout, with many voters threatening to leave the country if Maduro won, citing his rule's violence and economic collapse. Despite opposition claims of irregularities, including being denied access to the CNE (National Electoral Council) headquarters and allegations of vote-counting halts, Maduro declared victory, hailing it as a triumph for peace, stability, and democracy. The election campaign was marred by reports of arbitrary detentions and media outlet blocks, with the government also imposing significant barriers for Venezuelans abroad to vote. The US and several Latin American countries have expressed serious concerns about the election's fairness and transparency, with some leaders refusing to recognize Maduro's victory. In contrast, a few of Venezuela's allies have congratulated Maduro on his win. The Venezuelan foreign ministry has criticized foreign intervention and the questioning of the election results by various countries.
