The Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro was re-elected for a third consecutive six-year term, amid allegations of fraud by the opposition, who claimed victory for his candidate, Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia.
The National Electoral Council (CNE) proclaimed Ripe for a new presidential term after obtaining 5.15 million votes (51.2%) after counting 80% of the votes. González Urrutia received 4.45 million votes (44.2%), with a turnout of 59%, according to official information.
The electoral authorities delayed the release of figures and the Opposition began to denounce fraud. Later, with the voting centers closed, the counts from the polls.
“The ballot boxes express what the streets have already said during these months of campaigning. Victory of the Venezuelan people, happy birthday Commander Chavez!“, he said Deputy of the state of La Guaira in the National Assembly by Chavismo.
Minutes later, the head of the ruling party’s campaign went for more: “We can’t give results, but we can give faces,” he said, displaying a smile.“It was a victory for everyone,” he added.
Accompanied by the number two of Chavismo, Diosdado Cabello, and other pro-government leaders, Rodríguez stated: “The people have spoken and that voice of the people must be respected.”
Shortly before, González Urrutia had declared himself “more than pleased” with the expectations of the daywhile opposition leader María Corina Machado called on citizens to monitor the vote count.
“We want to ask all Venezuelans to stay in their voting centers and keep vigil there. We have fought all these years for this day, these are the crucial minutes,” Machado emphasized.
The opposition denounced irregularities in the electoral process in Venezuela
The opposition spokesperson Delsa Solorzano He said during a press conference: “The will of the citizens was expressed. We will defend the rights and will of citizens throughout our lives.”
“Venezuela already knows what happened and it is nothing other than the mirror of a wonderful electoral campaign supported by millions of people. Venezuela can now celebrate the exercise of democracy in peace,” continued Solórzano.
The spokesperson questioned the irregularities recorded during the day.There are incidents that have become a pattern: there are a significant number of voting centers from which our witnesses are being removed and others where they refuse to transmit the results of the minutes. But, we can say from the minutes that we have to We know what is happening in the country“, he stressed.
Source: Ambito
