President Nicolas Maduro has been reelected as the president of Venezuela for the 3rd term in office.
The National Electoral Council announced that Maduro had secured 51% of the vote to 44% for the opposition leading candidate Edmundo González.
Elvis Amoroso, president of the CNE electoral body told reporters 44.2% of the vote had gone to opposition candidate Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia.
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The election had a turnout of 59% of eligible voters, with Maduro securing 51.2% of the vote and his opponent Edmundo González securing 44.2%
But, Venezuela’s opposition coalition has rejected the election victory claimed by President Nicolas Maduro and announced by a loyalist electoral authority, saying it had garnered 70% of the vote, not 44% as reported by the authority.
“We want to say to all of Venezuela and the world that Venezuela has a new president-elect and it is (candidate) Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia,” opposition leader Maria Corina Machado told journalists, adding: “We won”
Meanwhile, the international community have expressed different reactions to the results, as some congratulated Mr. Maduro, others claimed either raised questions on the credibility or rejected it.
The community, including the U.S. and Latin American neighbors, has expressed concerns about the legitimacy of the election results with Peru, Argentina, Chile and Spain claimed elements of Fraud in the results.
But other global powers like China, Russia and Cuba congratulated Mr Maduro and assured to work with him for the development of their respectives countries.
The United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken says ‘serious concerns’ Venezuela election result does not reflect will of the people.
But, Chinese foreign ministry in a statement congratulated Mr Maduro describing him as legitimate and right leader.