Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro greeted his followers from Caracas' Miraflores Palace to celebrate victory after the National Electoral Council (CNE) announced that he had defeated opposition candidate Edmundo González Urrutia. According to CNE Chairman Elvis Amoroso, Maduro collected 51.2% of the vote, against his rival's 44.2% with 80% of the vote counted.
Venezuelans are heading to the polls today in a highly anticipated presidential election that could end a quarter-century of Chavismo. The nation faces a crucial decision between maintaining the current government under President Nicolás Maduro or opting for change led by opposition candidate Edmundo Gonzalez, supported by political leader Maria Corina Machado.
Leftwing governments in South America seem to have turned their backs on Venezuelan ruler Nicolás Maduro after he forecasted last week that his country would be heading for a bloodbath if he failed to win Sunday's presidential elections.
In the week prior to Venezuela's elections, Uruguayan Foreign Minister Omar Paganini insisted that it is time to defend democracy in that country so that the people can freely choose their government. He also called for the process to be held in peace and hoped that the votes would be counted with transparency. After that, he wished the outcome would be accepted by all those involved.
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva expressed alarm at Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro's recent remarks suggesting potential violence if he loses the upcoming election. Speaking in an interview with international news agencies, Lula condemned Maduro’s statements, which included threats of a “bloodbath” and “civil war,” as dangerous and unacceptable.
Uruguay, Argentina, Costa Rica, Guatemala, and Paraguay Friday signed a declaration expressing these countries' concern over the mounting “harassment and persecution” the Venezuelan regime of President Nicolás Maduro is exerting on opposition leaders ahead of the July 28 elections which most pollsters foresee he is bound to lose.
Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro foresaw a bloodbath in his country if he fails to be reelected on July 28. According to the most recent surveys, he would be trailing opposition candidate Edmundo González Urrutia by more than 10 percentage points.
The delivery to Brazil of Israeli-built missiles has been linked to fears that the dispute between Venezuela and Guyana over the oil-rich Essequibo region might escalate in the wake of the fudgy July 28 elections. With the most prominent opposition politicians disenfranchised, Caracas might fuel an international conflict to cover up for the domestic unrest expected to unfold, it was hinted.
Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro warned Friday that the fascist rightwing opposition would be crying foul after the upcoming July 28 elections and then promote a coup d'état at any moment. Maduro insisted he had proof that presidential candidates Edmundo González Urrutia and Enrique Márquez intended to follow that path to ignite violence after neither of them signed an agreement to recognize the outcome of the result of the elections earlier this week.
Venezuelan authorities announced Tuesday they were withdrawing the invitation previously extended to the European Union (RU) to monitor the July 28 elections in a move that cast additional doubts over a process that has for long looked fudgy following the disenfranchisement of opposition leader María Corina Machado.