Maduro, apparently sensing possible mass dissent after he was declared winner, promised to hold a national dialogue
By Kehinde Okeowo
Despite initial claim by the opposition that it was heading for victory, President Nicolas Maduro of Venezuela has been declared winner of the country’s presidential election.
With the highly controversial victory, he is set to return as president for the third time.
According to the National Electoral Council, which is controlled by Maduro loyalists, the incumbent secured 51% of the vote, while his nearest challenger, González polled 44%.
The electoral body, however, did not release the tallies from each of the 30,000 polling booths nationwide, promising only to do so in the “coming hours.”
The result contradicted multiple exit polls which suggested an opposition win after the Maduro administration was blamed for wrongdoings that evidently turned most citizens against him.
Maduro has responded to his controversial victory, proclaiming that his reelection is a triumph of peace and stability.
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Apparently sensing public suspicion and possible mass dissent, however, he was quick to announce that he would sign a document later in the day, Monday, to hold a national dialogue.
Prior to the declaration of Maduro as winner of the election, criticism was rife within the opposition that the country’s National Electoral Council acted like an arm of the government rather than an impartial independent body.
Meanwhile, Venezuela’s opposition has claimed it won Sunday’s presidential election, setting up a showdown with the government, which earlier declared President Nicolás Maduro the winner.
“The Venezuelans and the entire world know what happened,” opposition candidate Edmundo González said.
He added, “Our struggle continues and we will not rest until the will of the Venezuelan people is respected.”