CARACAS: Venezuela’s opposition declared it was the rightful victor of a presidential election as global concern poured in Monday over alleged irregularities in the re-election of strongman Nicolas Maduro.
After a turbulent decade in power, Maduro, 61, was declared the winner of Sunday’s presidential election which capped a campaign tainted by accusations of political intimidation.
Pollsters had predicted a resounding victory for the opposition, even after its popular leader Maria Corina Machado was blocked from running and appointed a proxy.
The CNE electoral council, largely loyal to Maduro, declared he had won reelection with 51.2 percent of votes, while opposition candidate Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia received 44.2 percent.
The result sparked concern over irregularities from the US, EU, and several countries in Latin America.
Maduro, 61, addressed celebrating supporters at the presidential palace minutes after the announcement, vowing “peace, stability and justice.”
But the opposition coalition insisted it had garnered 70 percent of the vote, rejecting the CNE figures.
“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, calling the official result “another fraud.”
Gonzalez Urrutia, a 74-year-old former diplomat, said “our fight continues, and we will not rest until the will of the Venezuelan people is reflected.”
“The results are undeniable. The country chose a peaceful change,” he wrote on X ahead of the official result.
Brazil’s Foreign Ministry called for an “impartial verification” of the results while Colombia urged an “independent audit” of ballots.
Costa Rican President Rodrigo Chaves denounced the CNE result as “fraudulent,” while Chile’s president called it “hard to believe.”
Peru announced it recalled its ambassador over the results.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken expressed “serious concerns” that the result did not reflect the will of Venezuelans. EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell called for “full transparency in the electoral process.”
Britain also voiced concerns about allegations of vote count “irregularities.”
Venezuela’s allies, including China, Russia, Cuba, Nicaragua, Honduras and Bolivia, however, congratulated Maduro.
