Maduro Declared Winner of Venezuelan Election

Nicolas Maduro has been declared the winner of Venezuela's presidential election with 51.2% of the votes, according to the electoral council, while opposition candidate Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia received 44.2%. However, opposition leader Maria Corina Machado claims that Gonzalez actually won 70% of the votes, asserting that the official results are fraudulent. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken expressed serious concerns about the integrity of the election results and called for transparency in the vote counting process. The delay in releasing detailed results from polling stations has further fueled skepticism regarding Maduro's win. While Maduro celebrated his victory, he faces accusations of authoritarianism and has been criticized for his government's handling of Venezuela's severe economic crisis. As international reactions pour in, including condemnation from Costa Rica and Chile, the legitimacy of this election remains hotly contested.