Venezuela is in a state of political uncertainty following Sunday's presidential election, where both incumbent President Nicolás Maduro and opposition candidate Edmundo González have claimed victory.
Maduro asserts that the election results are final, while González and opposition leader María Corina Machado maintain that they have evidence showing González as the rightful winner.
The National Electoral Council, aligned with the ruling party, announced Maduro as the winner with 51% of the vote, while González received 44%. However, the council has yet to release detailed tallies, causing skepticism and hindering result verification.
How Does Voting Work in Venezuela?
Venezuelans vote using electronic machines that provide a paper receipt displaying their chosen candidate. The ruling party exerts control over the voting process, limiting opposition oversight. Despite claims of an overwhelming victory for González based on partial tallies, the official results remain contested.
Number of Voters and Fairness of the Election
Over 9 million people voted out of an estimated 17 million eligible voters. Concerns about the fairness of the election arose due to government repression of critics and opposition members leading up to the polls.
What Can the Opposition Do?
The opposition has urged calm and refrained from violent protests, emphasizing their claim to victory. González and Machado assert they possess tally sheets showing González in the lead, prompting demonstrations against perceived electoral manipulation.
The situation remains tense as Venezuelans await further developments in the aftermath of the disputed election.
