After voting, Maduro said he wanted to respect the election result. - dpa
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According to official figures from the electoral commission, Maduro has won the election. The opposition does not recognize the victory. In March, following the controversial presidential election in Russia, Maduro was one of the first heads of state to congratulate Putin on his re-election.
China also congratulated Venezuela on the success of its presidential election, and Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro on his successful re-election, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said on Monday.
Lin made the remarks at a daily press briefing when asked to comment on the Venezuelan election.
Noting that China and Venezuela are good friends and partners, Lin said that China attaches great importance to the development of bilateral relations and is willing to work with Venezuela to continuously enrich the China-Venezuela all-weather comprehensive strategic partnership and bring more benefits to the two peoples.
Russia’s relations with Venezuela
Maduro, who has also ruled Venezuela in an authoritarian manner since 2013, described the victory of the “older brother” as a good omen for the whole world. Now Putin has reciprocated by recognizing Maduro’s victory, which was unusually quick for him. Russia is ready to continue to work with Venezuela on international issues.
Maduro is always a welcome guest in Russia. “I wish you success, health and well-being,” Putin wrote, according to the Kremlin . Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov reaffirmed his intention to develop closer economic relations with the South American country during a visit to Caracas in February. Russia sees Venezuela as one of the closest and most reliable friends in Latin America.
Incumbent Maduro wins presidential election in Venezuela
Venezuela’s authoritarian head of state Nicolás Maduro has been re-elected in the presidential election in the crisis-ridden South American state, according to official figures. The incumbent received 51.2 percent of the vote, the National Electoral Council (CNE) announced.
His main challenger, former diplomat Edmundo González Urrutia from the opposition alliance Plataforma Unitaria Democrática, received 44.2 percent.
The opposition in Venezuela has also declared itself the winner of the presidential election and has not recognized the official result. Venezuela has a new president and his name is Edmundo González, said opposition politician María Corina Machado. “We have won and the whole world knows that,” she said.
USA also doubts Maduro’s victory
In the run-up to the election, several polls had predicted a victory for the opposition candidate González. Observers, however, did not expect the election to be free and fair. Recently, numerous opposition members were arrested and candidates critical of the government were not allowed to stand in the election. The non-governmental organization Foro Penal reported that there were more than 300 political prisoners.
Criticism also came from the USA after the election results were announced. “We have serious concerns that the announced result does not reflect the will or the voice of the Venezuelan people,” said Secretary of State Antony Blinken during a visit to Tokyo, according to US media.
He called on the electoral commission to publish the full results. Every vote must be counted fairly and transparently. “The international community is watching this very closely and will react accordingly,” he added.
Allegations of Fraud
Protesters against the result of the presidential election in Venezuela’s election ends in controversy and nationwide protests.
After the controversial presidential election in the crisis-ridden state of Venezuela, numerous people in the capital Caracas and other cities protested against the official result. They took to the streets and banged pots and pans against each other, as the newspaper “El Nacional” reported. The so-called cacerolazo is a very popular form of protest in Latin America.
The National Electoral Council (CNE) officially declared incumbent Maduro the winner of the election. This means that the left-wing head of state can begin his third six-year term in January 2025. According to official figures, Maduro received 51.2 percent of the vote in Sunday’s vote.
Opposition does not recognize election result
The opposition candidate Edmundo González Urrutia received 44.2 percent. The opposition did not recognize the official result and claimed victory for its candidate Edmundo González Urrutia. They accused the government of electoral fraud.
The US government and a number of Latin American countries also expressed doubts about the official election result. Before Sunday’s election, several polls had predicted an opposition victory. However, even before the vote, observers did not believe that the election would be free and fair.
Other opposition candidate excluded
Venezuelans were waiting anxiously for the result of the presidential election, which is now expected at any time. Numerous supporters of the incumbent President Nicolás Maduro had gathered in front of the presidential palace Miraflores in the capital Caracas, as could be seen on Venezuelan television. The polling stations had been closed since 6 p.m. local time (midnight CEST), but people in the queue were allowed to cast their votes even after closing time.
In addition to the authoritarian President Maduro, who is seeking a third term in office, nine other candidates applied for the highest office in the state. In addition to Maduro, the best chances were given to former diplomat Edmundo González Urrutia from the opposition alliance Plataforma Unitaria Democrática. More than 21 million people at home and abroad were called to vote.
After voting, Maduro said he wanted to respect the result of the election. “I recognize the electoral court and the official election result and will ensure that it is respected,” said the 61-year-old in Caracas.
Former diplomat González said after casting his vote: “We will transform hatred into love, poverty into progress, corruption into honesty, farewell into reunion.” The time is ripe for the reconciliation of all Venezuelans.
The 74-year-old ran in place of the popular opposition leader María Corina Machado, who was banned from holding public office for 15 years because of alleged irregularities during her time as a member of parliament. “What we are seeing here is the most important civil act in the contemporary history of Venezuela,” Machado said after casting her vote.
Voting also took place abroad
Pictures showed queues of people outside polling stations since the early hours of the morning. Venezuelans also voted in other countries such as Colombia, Mexico and Spain. Thousands held a rally in Madrid and other Spanish cities, which was called for by the opposition in Venezuela, as El País reported.
According to several surveys, Maduro could indeed be voted out of power after eleven years. Observers, however, do not expect the election to be free and fair. Recently, numerous opposition members have been arrested and candidates critical of the government have not been allowed to run. The non-governmental organization Foro Penal reported that there are more than 300 political prisoners.
The foreign ministers of eight Latin American countries called in a joint statement for the counting of votes to be transparent. “We are following developments in Venezuela very closely and consider it essential to have guarantees that the election results will fully respect the will expressed by the Venezuelan people at the ballot box,” said the foreign ministries of Argentina, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay and the Dominican Republic.
“The will of the Venezuelan people must be respected,” said US Vice President Kamala Harris after the polls closed.
Venezuela has been in a serious political and economic crisis for years. The economy of the once prosperous country with rich oil reserves is suffering from mismanagement, corruption and sanctions. According to the UN, more than seven million people have left Venezuela in recent years because of poverty and violence .
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