Nicolas Maduro is seeking a third term as president in Venezuela, despite polls predicting he would lose the election.
According to the electoral authority, incumbent Nicolás Maduro has won the presidential election in Venezuela. Elvis Amoroso, head of the authority, announced on Monday night (local time) that with 80 percent of the votes counted, Maduro received a majority of 51.2 percent, while the strongest opposition candidate, Edmundo González Urrutia, garnered 44.2 percent. Amoroso described the result as “irreversible.”
However, several polls taken after the vote indicated a possible victory for González, and the opposition claimed they had “reason to celebrate.” This marks the third term for the socialist Maduro, whose 2018 re-election was not recognized internationally.
“The Venezuelan people don’t want Maduro”
“The results cannot be hidden. The country has peacefully chosen change,” González wrote on X just before the results were disclosed. Opposition leader Maria Corina Machado urged the military to validate the election outcome. “A message to the military. The Venezuelan people have spoken: they do not want Maduro,” she stated on X. “It is time to align yourself with the right side of history. You have a chance, and it is now.”
The opposition had raised concerns about irregularities and urged its election monitors to stay at polling stations until the vote count concluded. However, the opposition’s chief observer, Delsa Solorzano, was barred from entering the electoral authority’s building.
Maduro plans to acknowledge official results
Maduro is campaigning for a third six-year term. The 61-year-old Marxist is disliked by many voters due to the economic crisis in the country. Critics and experts fear that Maduro may not accept an election victory for his rival González Urrutia. Maduro is the political protégé and successor of President Hugo Chávez, who created a socialist system in Venezuela starting in 1999 and passed away in 2013.
On Sunday morning, while voting in the capital, Caracas, Maduro emphasized: “I will acknowledge the electoral authorities, the official results, and I will ensure they are respected.” At the same time, he urged all other presidential candidates to commit to recognizing the official results released by the electoral authorities.
Elvis Amoroso, head of the electoral authority CNE, labeled the opposition as “enemies of Venezuela” when speaking to reporters on Sunday, asserting that their candidate “rejects the constitution.”
Maduro’s power structure in Venezuela relies heavily on the military and police. Before the election, he repeatedly stated he would not relinquish power in the event of a defeat and threatened a “bloodbath” if he lost. Days later, on July 20, he claimed that only he could guarantee “peace and stability” for Venezuela, stating, “The future of Venezuela for the next 50 years will be determined on July 28 between a Venezuela of peace or violence.”
Challenger Gonzáles Urrutia: “Trust our armed forces”
“We are ready to defend every single vote,” Gonzáles Urrutia remarked on Sunday after casting his vote in Caracas. “We rely on our armed forces to respect the will of our people.”
According to most polls, Maduro was only expected to receive slightly over 30 percent of the vote, while former diplomat González Urrutia was projected to obtain between 50 and 70 percent. Other presidential candidates were deemed to have no chance.
Edmundo Gonzalez (centre) Reuters (Reuters)
Controversial election of 2018
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken called on all parties to respect the “democratic process” of the election. “The Venezuelan people deserve an election that truly reflects their will and is free from any manipulation,” Blinken stated. “The international community will be watching this very closely.”
Maduro’s election in 2018 was not acknowledged by most Western nations, leading to sanctions imposed on Venezuela. The president is accused of suppressing opposition within the country. Opposition politician María Corina Machado was barred from running for president over alleged corruption. Last year, Maduro’s government and the opposition agreed to ensure free and fair elections in 2024.
Economic crisis and hyperinflation
Many Venezuelans hold the head of state accountable for the economic crisis and hyperinflation affecting the oil-rich nation. Once the biggest oil producer in South America, Venezuela produced 3.5 million barrels of crude oil daily in 2008.
Due to mismanagement, falling oil prices, and US sanctions, production plummeted to less than 400,000 barrels by 2020 before rising to around one million barrels last month. Over ten years, Venezuela’s gross domestic product shrank by 80 percent, and hyperinflation rendered its currency, the Bolivar, nearly worthless.
Approximately one in four Venezuelans have fled the economic and political turmoil in their country. Many have immigrated to other Latin American nations, some have attempted the perilous journey to the USA, and others have sought opportunities in Europe and Asia. (APA/AFP/Reuters)
Nicolás Maduro is facing a third term as president in Venezuela, although polls had predicted an electoral defeat.
According to the electoral authority, incumbent Nicolás Maduro has won the presidential election in Venezuela. As the head of the authority, Elvis Amoroso, announced on Monday night (local time) after 80 percent of the votes had been counted, Maduro received a majority of 51.2 percent. The most promising opposition candidate, Edmundo González Urrutia, received 44.2 percent. The result is “irreversible,” added the head of the electoral authority, Amoroso.
However, several polls after the vote had pointed to a victory for González, and the opposition had declared that it had “reason to celebrate.” This is the third term of the socialist Maduro. In 2018, however, his re-election was not internationally recognized.
“The Venezuelan People Don’t Want Maduro”
“The results cannot be kept secret. The country has peacefully decided for change,” González said on X shortly before the results were announced. Opposition leader Maria Corina Machado again called on the country’s military to confirm the election result. “A message to the military. The Venezuelan people have spoken: they do not want Maduro,” she wrote on X. “It is time to put yourself on the right side of history. You have a chance, and it is now.”
The opposition had warned of irregularities and called on its election observers to remain in the polling stations until the end of the vote count. However, the opposition’s main observer, Delsa Solorzano, was prevented from entering the electoral authority building.
Maduro Wants to Recognize Official Result
Maduro is running for a third six-year term. The 61-year-old Marxist is unpopular with many voters because of the country’s economic crisis. Government opponents and experts fear that Maduro would not recognize an election victory by his challenger, González Urrutia. Maduro is the political protégé and successor of President Hugo Chávez, who died in 2013 and established a socialist system in Venezuela from 1999 onwards.
On Sunday morning, while casting his vote in the capital Caracas, Maduro stressed: “I will recognize the electoral authorities, the official results, and I will ensure that they are respected.” At the same time, he called on all other candidates for the presidency to publicly declare that they would also recognize the official results published by the electoral authorities.
The head of the electoral authority CNE, Elvis Amoroso, described the opposition as “enemies of Venezuela” to reporters on Sunday and said that their candidate “rejects the constitution”.
Maduro’s power apparatus in Venezuela is based on the military and the police, among others. Before the vote, he had repeatedly said that he would not give up power in the event of an election defeat. Among other things, last week he threatened a “bloodbath” in the event of defeat. A few days later, on July 20, he then declared that only he could ensure “peace and stability” for Venezuela. “The future of Venezuela for the next 50 years will be decided on July 28, between a Venezuela of peace or violence,” he said.
Challenger Gonzáles Urrutia: “Trust Our Armed Forces”
“We are ready to defend every single vote,” Gonzáles Urrutia said on Sunday after casting his vote in Caracas. “We trust our armed forces to respect the decision of our people.”
According to most polls, Maduro could only expect to receive just over 30 percent of the vote, while former diplomat González Urrutia was expected to receive between 50 and 70 percent of the vote. Other candidates for the presidency were considered to have no chance.
Edmundo Gonzalez (centre) Reuters (Reuters)
Controversial Election 2018
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken called on all sides to respect the “democratic process” of the election. “The Venezuelan people deserve an election that truly reflects their will and is free from any manipulation,” Blinken said. The international community will be “watching this very closely.”
Maduro’s election in 2018 was not recognized by most Western countries, and sanctions were subsequently imposed on Venezuela. The president is accused of suppressing the opposition in the country. Opposition politician María Corina Machado was banned from running for president due to alleged corruption. Maduro’s government and the opposition had agreed last year to ensure free and fair elections in 2024.
Economic Crisis and Hyperinflation
Many Venezuelans blame the head of state for the economic crisis and hyperinflation in oil-rich Venezuela. The country was once the largest oil producer in South America: in 2008, 3.5 million barrels of crude oil were produced daily.
Due to mismanagement, the fall in oil prices, and US sanctions, production fell to less than 400,000 barrels by 2020, before rising again to around one million barrels last month. Venezuela’s gross domestic product shrank by 80 percent within ten years, and hyperinflation made the country’s currency, the Bolivar, virtually worthless.
About one in four Venezuelans fled the economic and political crisis in their homeland. Many emigrated to other Latin American countries, some dared the dangerous journey to the USA. Still others tried to gain a foothold in Europe and Asia. (APA/AFP/Reuters)
