MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Bad start for Maduro: Capriles showing debilitates him inside the Bolivarian nomenclature

Maduro ready to assume responsibility and to fight on

Following five hours of a long recount process Venezuela’s National Electoral Council announced early Monday morning that acting president Nicolas Maduro is the new head of state, having defeated Henrique Capriles by less than a two percentage point difference.

Tibisay Lucena, CNE president said that Maduro obtained 50.66% of the vote and Capriles, 49.07%, according to the ‘irreversible’ data from the count of 99.12% of ballots. Turnout was 79%, which is almost equivalent to 19 million Venezuelans.

Lucerna said the former Vice-president of Hugo Chavez captured 7.505.338 votes and Capriles, 7.270.403 while the rest of candidates, 38.765 votes.

“We have spoken with the candidates given such tight results, with an irreversible tendency. It is moment to go home and invite followers and militants to act peacefully. The Venezuelan people have spoken and have done so loudly. We are asking everybody to go home quietly, peacefully and as always with the solidarity that characterizes us”, added the head of CNE.

Meanwhile thousands of Chavistas concentrated next to the Miraflores Palace in Caracas responding a call from Jorge Rodriguez head of the incumbent candidate campaign and mayor of the country’s capital to celebrate the continuity of the ‘Bolivarian revolution’. 

Chavez, who ruled for 14 years, anointed Maduro as his political heir in his last speech to the country before succumbing to cancer on March 5.

That gave his former vice president and foreign minister a huge advantage but Capriles narrowed the gap in the final days of the campaign and the result was much closer than many had expected.

“I'm here to assume my responsibility with courage ... The fight continues!” Maduro, 50, told a victory rally.

Capriles, 40, had argued that voters were tired of divisive Chavez-era politics, and vowed to tackle daily worries such as violent crime, high inflation and creaking utilities.

Last night at the closing of voting day, Capriles twitted that “We have warned the country and the world of the intention to change the will expressed by the people!”

However despite Maduro’s victory, the great undisputable victor is Capriles who challenged Hugo Chavez legacy (who only died a month ago), his anointed successor and all the resources of the Venezuelan state which are not few.

Besides, his less that two percentage point difference strongly debilitates Maduro inside the ruling party: he has several strong rivals, and with a trade union and civilian background he does not dominate the powerful Armed Forces branch of the Bolivarian revolution.