Key Highlights:
- Both incumbent President Nicolás Maduro and opposition candidate Edmundo González claim victory in the disputed election.
- The National Electoral Council’s delay in releasing vote tallies fuels uncertainty and protests.
- Opposition leaders assert that they have proof of González’s win, while government authorities maintain Maduro’s victory.
Venezuela is in a state of political turmoil following Sunday’s presidential election, with incumbent President Nicolás Maduro and opposition candidate Edmundo González both declaring victory. The National Electoral Council (CNE), which is aligned with Maduro’s government, announced that Maduro won with 51% of the vote. However, the official vote tallies have yet to be released, creating widespread confusion and unrest.
Election Controversy
Despite Maduro’s official declaration as the winner, opposition candidate Edmundo González, supported by María Corina Machado, contends that their campaign has substantial evidence showing González’s victory. González revealed that their team has acquired over 70% of the tally sheets from the election, indicating that he received more votes than Maduro.
González, speaking outside his campaign headquarters in Caracas, urged calm among his supporters and emphasized their evidence of a decisive win. He claimed, “We have in our hands the tally sheets that demonstrate our categorical and mathematically irreversible victory.”
Delayed Results and Protests
The delay in releasing the vote tallies by the CNE has exacerbated the situation. Although Maduro was declared the winner, the electoral body’s website was down, and the promised release of detailed vote counts has yet to materialize. This lack of transparency has led to widespread protests, with thousands of demonstrators taking to the streets, particularly in Caracas’ Petare neighborhood. Protesters, some masked, tore down Maduro’s campaign posters and chanted slogans demanding the fall of his government.
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Voting Process and Fairness
Venezuelan voting involves electronic machines that provide a paper receipt for each vote. After polls close, each machine prints a tally sheet showing the votes received. However, the ruling party’s control over the voting system has raised concerns. Opposition representatives have been reportedly blocked from accessing voting centers and tally sheets, fueling allegations of electoral manipulation.
In December, a similar situation occurred when electoral authorities did not release tallies after a referendum on a territorial dispute with Guyana. The ongoing opacity and previous controversies have cast a shadow over the election’s fairness.
Opposition’s Next Steps
The opposition has called for peaceful demonstrations and remains steadfast in its claim of victory. González and Machado have urged supporters to stay calm while continuing to seek international support and validation of their evidence. The opposition’s focus now is on challenging the results and pushing for transparency in the vote count.
As Venezuela navigates this crisis, the international community and domestic observers await further developments, with the integrity of the election process under intense scrutiny.
Read this also: Venezuelan Opposition Claims Proof of Victory in Disputed Election
