News Desk

The Advocate Post: Venezuela’s President Nicolás Maduro and his political rivals each asserted victory in the presidential election held on Monday.

However, the United States and several regional countries expressed doubts regarding the official results, which declared Maduro the winner with over 51% of the votes counted, surpassing Democratic Unitary Platform (PUD) candidate Edmundo González Urrutia, who garnered more than 44%.

During a news conference, opposition leader María Corina Machado presented a contrasting view of the election results. She claimed that their candidate Edmundo González Urrutiahad secured 70% of the vote, while President Maduroreceived only 30%. Machado asserted confidently that they had emerged victorious and emphasized their commitment to upholding the truth.

She further stated that the international community was aware of the election dynamics in Venezuela and the populace’s desire for change. González, also speaking at the conference, alleged that there were violations of election rules.

The upcoming presidency of Nicolás Maduro would mark his third consecutive six-year term, continuing the legacy of “Chavismo” that began with former president Hugo Chávez in 1999. Maduro succeeded Chávez in 2013 after his death.

The election is pivotal for Venezuela, a nation rich in oil resources but suffering from severe economic downturn, widely regarded as one of the worst in peacetime history. Maduro attributes Venezuela’s economic woes to foreign sanctions, labelling them an “economic war.”

In contrast, the opposition, energised during this election cycle, has pledged to restore democracy and rebuild the economy if they were to win, presenting the most significant challenge to Maduro’s authority in recent years.