Venezuela’s opposition claims victory in presidential election

Venezuela’s opposition claims victory in presidential election

Venezuela’s opposition has claimed it has won the country’s presidential elections, despite the country’s Electoral Council (CNE) announcing incumbent Nicolás Maduro had been re-elected.

The CNE said early on Monday Maduro had won a third term in office with about 51% of the vote, beating opposition candidate Edmundo González, who secured about 44%.

However, opposition leader María Corina Machado claimed the opposition had secured 70% of the vote.

“We won and the whole world knows that,” she told journalists.

González was nominated as a replacement candidate for Machado, who has been banned from office.

Ahead of the vote, few observers inside or outside Venezuela expected a free and fair election.

In the run-up to election day, numerous members of the opposition were detained and candidates critical of the government were not allowed to run.

A total of around 21.6 million people were eligible to vote, including those abroad.

Venezuelan citizens opposed to Nicolas Maduro and in favour of Corina Machado and Edmundo Gonzalez, wait for the results of the presidential elections near the Venezuelan embassy in Santiago. Matias Basualdo/ZUMA Press Wire/dpa

Venezuelan citizens opposed to Nicolas Maduro and in favour of Corina Machado and Edmundo Gonzalez, wait for the results of the presidential elections near the Venezuelan embassy in Santiago. Matias Basualdo/ZUMA Press Wire/dpa

President of Venezuela Nicolas Maduro (C) speaks during his final campaign rally. Maduro is seeking his third term in office in the election on July 28. Jeampier Arguinzones/dpaPresident of Venezuela Nicolas Maduro (C) speaks during his final campaign rally. Maduro is seeking his third term in office in the election on July 28. Jeampier Arguinzones/dpa

President of Venezuela Nicolas Maduro (C) speaks during his final campaign rally. Maduro is seeking his third term in office in the election on July 28. Jeampier Arguinzones/dpa

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