President Nicolas Maduro of Venezuela has been declared winner of the country’s presidential election.
He is thus set to return as president for the third time.
According to the electoral body of the country, Maduro won the election conducted Sunday, July 28, with 51 percent of the vote.
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.
The result of the poll indicated that opposition candidate, Edmundo Gonzalez, who was widely acclaimed to be heading for victory as the election progressed late on Sunday, actually won just 44 percent of the vote.
Maduro has responded to his controversial victory, proclaiming that his reelection is a triumph of peace and stability.
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.
Already, criticism is rife within the opposition that the country’s National Electoral Council acted like an arm of the government rather than an impartial independent body.
The opposition had earlier said voters had chosen a change.
Edmundo Gonzalez said in a post on X not long before the results were announced, “The results cannot be hidden. The country has peacefully chosen a change.”
Maduro declared winner of Venezuela presidential election
