Venezuela’s opposition has claimed victory in Sunday’s presidential election, setting up a conflict with the government, which had earlier declared President Nicolás Maduro the winner. Opposition candidate Edmundo González, along with opposition leader Maria Corina Machado, stated that the victory margin for González was “overwhelming” based on their own voting tallies from about 40% of ballot boxes nationwide.
The National Electoral Council, controlled by Maduro loyalists, announced that Maduro had secured 51% of the vote compared to 44% for González but did not release tallies from each of the 30,000 polling booths, promising to do so later. This delay and lack of transparency have led to widespread skepticism and international hesitation in recognizing the results.
Foreign leaders, including Chilean President Gabriel Boric and U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, have expressed doubts about the credibility of the announced results, with Blinken noting “serious concerns” that the results may not reflect the will of the Venezuelan people.
Maduro, facing his toughest challenge from the relatively unknown retired diplomat González, celebrated the results and accused foreign entities of attempting to hack the voting system without providing evidence. Opposition representatives claim their collected tallies show a decisive victory for González.
The election has significant implications for Venezuela and the broader region, as many Venezuelans consider emigration if Maduro secures another term. Venezuela, with the world’s largest proven oil reserves, has seen its economy plummet under Maduro’s rule, leading to widespread poverty, hyperinflation, and mass emigration. Despite some economic stabilization efforts and a forecasted growth, the general population continues to struggle with low wages and high living costs.
The opposition has managed to unite behind a single candidate after years of internal divisions, although their original candidate, Maria Corina Machado, was barred from running by the Maduro-controlled Supreme Court, leading to González’s last-minute selection.
As the situation develops, the true outcome of the election remains contested, with both domestic and international scrutiny on the electoral process and its results.
