Presidential election in Venezuela: Electoral authority declares Maduro the winner | EUROtoday

Incumbent President Maduro has been declared the winner of the presidential election in Venezuela by the electoral authorities. However, the opposition claimed victory for itself. Doubts in regards to the outcome additionally instantly emerged from the USA.

According to the electoral authority, incumbent Nicolás Maduro has gained the presidential election in Venezuela. As authority head Elvis Amoroso introduced after 80 p.c of the votes forged had been counted, Maduro obtained a majority of 51.2 p.c.

The most promising opposition candidate, Edmundo González Urrutia, obtained 44.2 p.c. The result’s “irreversible,” added electoral authority chief Amoroso.

However, the authority managed by Maduro loyalists has not but printed official counting outcomes from the 15,797 polling stations, which has hampered the opposition's means to confirm the outcome.

Opposition candidate claims election victory in Venezuela

The opposition claimed victory within the vote. They had beforehand reported irregularities within the vote. Opposition candidate González stated in his first assertion: “The Venezuelans and the whole world know what happened.” Opposition chief Maria Corina Machado stated González's lead was “overwhelming.” Venezuela has “a new president-elect,” specifically Edmundo González Urrutia. He obtained 70 p.c of the vote and never 44 p.c.

Machado additionally wrote on the net platform X: “A message to the military. The Venezuelan people have spoken: they don't want Maduro.” It is time to place themselves on the appropriate aspect of historical past. “You have a chance, and it's now.”

Several polls after the vote had pointed to a victory for González. Even earlier than the election, a number of polls had not put Maduro in first place – so there was a risk that he may very well be voted out after eleven years in energy. Observers, nonetheless, didn’t anticipate the election to be free and honest.

Doubts of the USA

The US expressed doubts about Maduro's introduced victory. Washington has “serious concerns” that the introduced outcome doesn’t mirror the need of the individuals, stated Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

The opposition had beforehand warned of irregularities within the vote and referred to as on its election observers to stay within the polling stations till the tip of the vote depend. However, the opposition's primary observer, Delsa Solorzano, was prevented from getting into the electoral authority constructing.

The EU was not represented by observers on the vote as a result of Venezuela's electoral authority had withdrawn an invite. According to the Panamanian authorities, 4 Latin American ex-presidents have been additionally prevented from touring to watch the election. The United Nations has despatched some election specialists, however their roles are restricted as a result of the physique doesn’t make public statements assessing the election course of.

NGO experiences at the very least 300 political prisoners

Recently, quite a few opposition members have been arrested in Venezuela and candidates crucial of the federal government weren’t allowed to face within the election. The non-governmental group Foro Penal reported that there have been greater than 300 political prisoners.

Opposition chief Machado was banned from holding public workplace for 15 years on account of alleged irregularities throughout her time as a member of parliament. González, who was largely unknown till just lately, ultimately took her place.

Maduro threatened “bloodbath” in case of defeat

Shortly after the electoral authority introduced his victory, Maduro stated within the capital Caracas that there could be “peace, stability and justice” in Venezuela. He additionally promised “peace and respect for the law.” “I am a man of peace and dialogue,” Maduro informed supporters.

Maduro's election in 2018 was not acknowledged by most Western international locations, and sanctions have been subsequently imposed on Venezuela, partly due to the suppression of the opposition within the nation. Now the top of state was working for a 3rd six-year time period within the election.

The 61-year-old is unpopular with many citizens due to the financial disaster within the nation. His energy equipment in Venezuela relies on the army and the police, amongst others. Before the vote, Maduro had stated a number of occasions that he wouldn’t hand over energy within the occasion of an election defeat. Among different issues, he had threatened a “bloodbath” within the occasion of defeat.