“Venezuela Election Update: Maduro Announced as Winner, González Declares Himself Victorious”

Venezuela’s election authorities have announced President Nicolás Maduro as the winner of Sunday’s presidential race, while the opposition, led by Edmundo González, disputes the result, leading to a tense situation.

González, who had no prior political experience, criticized the election process, alleging that the rules were broken. He has demanded that the electoral authorities release all voting machine tallies to validate the results. The opposition, skeptical of the National Electoral Council (CNE), which they believe favors the ruling party, questions the accuracy of the results.

González, supported by opposition leader María Corina Machado, vowed to continue fighting until the will of the Venezuelan people is honored. Some Caracas residents reacted with disbelief and frustration, with protests erupting in response to the announcement.

In his victory speech, Maduro did not address key issues such as wages, employment, or investment in education and health. Instead, he mocked Argentina’s President Javier Milei, who had previously called Maduro a “dictator” and predicted an opposition victory. Milei’s comments highlighted the global anticipation for Maduro to concede defeat amid ongoing criticisms of his leadership.