Venezuela Presidential Election
Venezuela's Maduro, opposition each claim presidential victory
CARACAS, Venezuela — In a dramatic and contentious turn of events, both President Nicolás Maduro and opposition candidate Edmundo González have declared victory in Venezuela's presidential election, setting the stage for a high-stakes political showdown. The National Electoral Council (CNE), controlled by Maduro loyalists, announced early Monday that Maduro secured 51% of the vote, while González garnered 44%. However, opposition leaders, buoyed by exit polls and preliminary tallies, assert that González won by a significant margin.
The election, held on Sunday, was marred by delays and allegations of irregularities. The CNE's announcement came six hours after polls were supposed to close, a delay that opposition leaders claim was used to manipulate the results. The electoral authority has yet to release the official voting tallies from each of the 30,000 polling centers, further fueling suspicions of fraud.
Edmundo González, a retired diplomat who emerged as a last-minute stand-in for opposition powerhouse Maria Corina Machado, claimed victory based on data collected from campaign representatives at 30% of voting centers. "We have serious concerns that the result announced does not reflect the will or the votes of the Venezuelan people,” said U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, echoing the sentiments of many international observers.
The opposition's confidence was bolstered by purported exit polls showing a healthy margin of victory for González, despite the fact that exit polls are not allowed under Venezuelan law. Opposition leader Maria Corina Machado rejected the CNE's results, stating that González had actually won 70% of the vote. "The Maduro regime should understand that the results it published are difficult to believe," said Chilean President Gabriel Boric. "We won't recognize any result that is not verifiable."
The election represents Maduro's toughest challenge yet, as he seeks a third term amid widespread economic hardship and political discontent. Venezuela, once one of Latin America's wealthiest nations due to its vast oil reserves, has experienced a dramatic decline under Maduro's leadership. Plummeting oil prices, hyperinflation, and widespread shortages have led to social unrest and mass emigration, with more than 7.7 million people leaving the country since 2015.
Maduro's campaign focused on promises of economic stability and security, despite the ongoing crisis. "I recognize and will recognize the electoral referee, the official announcements and I will make sure they are recognized," Maduro said after voting, urging all candidates to do the same. However, his assurances did little to quell the opposition's claims of electoral fraud.
The international community has called for transparency in the vote count. Foreign ministers from Argentina, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Guatemala, Panamá, Paraguay, Peru, the Dominican Republic, and Uruguay issued a joint statement demanding a transparent count to ensure the results respect the will of Venezuelan voters. "The Venezuelan people and the international community demand full transparency of the votes and the counting process, and for independent international observers to verify the results," said President Boric.
The political crisis in Venezuela has deepened since Maduro's disputed re-election in 2018, which was widely condemned as illegitimate by the international community. The opposition, united behind González, has promised to address the economic inequalities and hardships faced by Venezuelans. González and Machado's campaign focused on the vast hinterland, where economic activity has not materialized as it has in Caracas. They promised to create sufficient jobs to attract Venezuelans living abroad to return home and reunite with their families.
As both sides prepare for a protracted battle over the election results, the future of Venezuela hangs in the balance. The outcome of this election could either lead to a seismic shift in the nation's political landscape or prolong the current administration's policies for another six years, which have contributed to one of the world's worst peacetime economic collapses. The coming days will be crucial in determining whether Venezuela can transition away from one-party rule or continue on its current path of economic and political turmoil.