Latin America - Venezuela: Waiting for the result of the Presidential election
Venezuelans eagerly await the results of the Presidential Election, which is always anticipated. Numerous supporters of incumbent President Nicolás Maduro had gathered before the Miraflores Presidential Palace in the capital Caracas, as shown on Venezuelan television. The polling stations had closed at 18:00 local time (24:00 MESZ), but people in line were still allowed to cast their votes after the closure. The preliminary official results will be announced by the National Electoral Council (CNE).
Besides the authoritarian President Maduro, who is seeking a third term, nine other candidates contested for the highest state office. The best chances, besides Maduro, are attributed to former diplomat Edmundo González Urrutia from the Opposition Coalition Plataforma Unitaria Democrática. Over 21 million people were called to vote inland and abroad.
Maduro stated after casting his vote that he would respect the election results. "I recognize the electoral court and the official election results and will ensure they are respected," the 61-year-old said in Caracas.
The former diplomat González 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 replaced the popular opposition leader María Corina Machado, who was barred from holding public office due to alleged irregularities during her tenure as a deputy. "What we see here is the most significant civil act in Venezuela's contemporary history," Machado said after casting her vote.
Voting also took place abroad
Images showed long lines of people at polling stations since early morning hours. Venezuelans also voted in other countries like Colombia, Mexico, or Spain. Thousands had held a rally in Madrid and other Spanish cities, as called for by the opposition in Venezuela, according to "El País".
According to several polls, Maduro could indeed be defeated after eleven years in power. However, observers do not expect a free and fair election. In the run-up to the vote, numerous opposition figures were arrested, and pro-government candidates were not allowed to run. The NGO Foro Penal reported over 300 political prisoners.
The foreign ministers of eight Latin American countries called in a joint statement for the counting of votes to be conducted transparently. "We closely follow the developments in Venezuela and consider it essential to have guarantees that the election results reflect the will of the Venezuelan people in full," the foreign ministers of Argentina, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, and the Dominican Republic stated.
"The will of the Venezuelan people must be respected," demanded US Vice President Kamala Harris after the polling stations closed.
Venezuela has been mired in a severe political and economic crisis for years. The economy of the once wealthy country with rich oil reserves is suffering from mismanagement, corruption, and sanctions. Over seven million people have left Venezuela due to poverty and violence according to UN estimates.
- Despite the gathering of supporters for President Nicolás Maduro at the Miraflores Presidential Palace in Caracas, former diplomat Edmundo González Urrutia from the Opposition Coalition Plataforma Unitaria Democrática is seen as having strong chances, alongside Maduro, in the Presidential Election.
- Maria Corina Machado, the former popular opposition leader, was unable to participate in this Presidential Election due to alleged irregularities during her tenure as a deputy, and her place was filled by a 74-year-old individual.
- The foreign ministers of eight Latin American countries issued a joint statement, expressing their desire to ensure the counting of votes in the Presidential Election is conducted transparently, reflecting the will of the Venezuelan people.
- The United States Vice President, Kamala Harris, urged for respecting the will of the Venezuelan people after the Presidential Election polling stations closed.
- Amidst Venezuela's years-long political and economic crisis, marked by corruption, mismanagement, and sanctions, over seven million people have fled the once-wealthy oil-rich country due to poverty and violence, as per UN estimates.
