Latin America - Presidential election in Venezuela: Polling stations close
At the presidential election in crisis-stricken Venezuela, polling stations are closing. People in the queue may still be able to cast their vote after 18 hours local time (24 hours MESZ), according to an information leaflet from the National Electoral Council (CNE). Besides Maduro, former diplomat Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia from the Unitarian Democratic Platform opposition alliance is considered to have the best chances. Over 21 million people were called to vote in the country and abroad. Preliminary results are expected in the night to Monday German time.
Maduro stated after casting his vote that he would respect the election results. "I recognize the electoral court and the official gazettes and will ensure they are respected", the 61-year-old said in the capital Caracas.
Gonzalez, a former diplomat, said after casting his vote: "We will turn hatred into love, poverty into progress, corruption into honesty, farewell into a reunion." The time is ripe for the reconciliation of all Venezuelans.
The 74-year-old ran instead of popular opposition leader Maria Corina Machado, who was banned from holding public office for 15 years due to alleged irregularities during her tenure as a deputy. "What we are seeing here is the most important civil act in the contemporary history of Venezuela", Machado said after casting her vote.
Voting also took place abroad
Images showed long queues of people in front of polling stations since early morning hours. Venezuelans also voted in other countries such as Colombia, Mexico, or Spain. Thousands had held a rally in Madrid and other Spanish cities, as called for by the opposition in their country, according to "El Pais" reporting.
According to several polls, Maduro could indeed face the possibility of being ousted after eleven years in power. However, observers do not expect a free and fair election. Recently, numerous opposition figures have been arrested and government-critical candidates have been excluded from the race.
Venezuela has been mired in a severe political and economic crisis for years. The economy of the once prosperous country with rich oil reserves is suffering from mismanagement, corruption, and sanctions. Over seven million people have left Venezuela according to UN estimates due to poverty and violence.
- Despite the ongoing crisis in Venezuela, over 21 million people were called to participate in the presidential election, including those voting abroad in countries like Colombia, Mexico, and Spain.
- The election, held in a crisis-stricken state, saw polling stations closing with people in queues still able to cast their votes beyond 18 hours local time, as per the National Electoral Council's information leaflet.
- Despite the various challenges and allegations of corruption, Nicolas Maduro, the incumbent, and Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia from the Unitarian Democratic Platform opposition alliance were considered major contenders.
- In the capital Caracas, Maduro, following his vote, pledged to respect the election results, recognizing the electoral court and official gazettes, while Gonzalez emphasized that they would work towards turning hatred into love, poverty into progress, and corruption into honesty.
- However, the election faced criticism with observers raising concerns about the free and fair nature of the polls, due to numerous arrests of opposition figures and exclusion of government-critical candidates from the race.
- Maria Corina Machado, the popular opposition leader, who was banned from holding public office due to alleged irregularities during her tenure as a deputy, was unable to run in this election, leaving a significant void in the opposition's lineup.
