Written By Lisa Murimi
President Nicolás Maduro has claimed victory in Venezuela’s presidential election, according to partial results announced by the National Electoral Council (CNE).
Elvis Amoroso, head of the CNE and a close ally of Maduro, reported that with 80% of ballots counted, Maduro secured 51% of the vote, while his main rival, Edmundo González, garnered 44%.
The Venezuelan opposition swiftly denounced the announcement as fraudulent, asserting that González had won with 70% of the votes.
They insisted González was the rightful president-elect, citing their own vote tallies, exit polls, and quick counts, which showed a 40-point lead over Maduro.
Opposition parties had united behind González in a bid to unseat Maduro, who has been in power for 11 years.
Opinion polls prior to the election suggested a decisive victory for González, with many voters seeking change after 25 years under the socialist PSUV party.
The US and several Latin American leaders expressed skepticism about the results.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken voiced “serious concerns” over the declared outcome, and Chilean President Gabriel Boric demanded transparency and accountability from international observers.
Despite the controversy, Maduro’s allies celebrated the result.
The Cuban president hailed it as a victory for the Venezuelan people, while Maduro himself called it a “triumph of peace and stability.”
