Venezuela’s Maduro declared winner in disputed vote

• Venezuela’s Maduro declared winner in disputed vote
• With 80% of the votes counted, Maduro secured 51.20%, while his main rival, Edmundo González, had 44.02%
• The opposition rejected the CNE’s announcement as fraudulent, claiming González actually won with 70% of the vote
• Many voters expressed a desire for change after 25 years of socialist PSUV party rule
• US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Chilean President Gabriel Boric voiced scepticism about the results

Venezuela elections 2024: Venezuela’s Maduro declared winner in disputed vote

President Nicolás Maduro has been declared the winner of Venezuela’s presidential election, according to partial results from the National Electoral Council (CNE). Elvis Amoroso, the CNE head and a Maduro ally, reported that with 80% of the votes counted, Maduro secured 51.20%, while his main rival, Edmundo González, had 44.02%.

The opposition rejected the CNE’s announcement as fraudulent, claiming González actually won with 70% of the vote. They argued that their own vote tallies, exit polls, and quick counts showed González leading by 40 percentage points. Opposition parties had united behind González to challenge Maduro’s 11-year rule, and pre-election polls had indicated a strong lead for González.

Many voters expressed a desire for change after 25 years of socialist PSUV party rule, first under Hugo Chávez and then Maduro. Despite fears of election fraud, the opposition had hoped a convincing lead would prevent any manipulation.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Chilean President Gabriel Boric voiced scepticism about the results. Blinken cited “serious concerns” that the outcome did not reflect the voters’ will, while Boric called for full transparency and independent verification of the results by unbiased international observers.

Dictator Maduro claims victory with 51% of the vote, despite exit polls showing his loss, and after the suppression and delay of results.

The reason for the delay was a “terrorist attack” he claims.

— Winter Intel (@wntrintel) July 29, 2024