Venezuela's Supreme Court has upheld President Nicolas Maduro's assertion that he won the recent presidential election, dismissing claims of electoral fraud. The court's ruling, announced in a session attended by senior officials and foreign diplomats, supports Maduro's bid for a third term despite widespread protests and international criticism.
Opposition volunteers gathered voting tallies from 80% of polling booths nationwide, indicating a significant lead for opposition candidate Edmundo González. However, the court's decision to certify Maduro's victory contradicts assessments by experts from the United Nations and the Carter Center, who found the election results lacking credibility.
The government attributed delays in vote counting and result publication to an alleged cyberattack by hackers from North Macedonia, a claim unsupported by evidence. González, the main opposition candidate, did not participate in the court's audit, prompting accusations of inciting panic from the justices.
Following the election, security forces arrested over 2,000 individuals, including González and his supporter Maria Corina Machado, who went into hiding. Calls from various foreign governments, including the U.S. and Maduro's leftist allies, have urged Venezuelan authorities to disclose a detailed breakdown of election results.
