Nicolas Maduro re-elected president with 51.2% of the vote, National Electoral Council announces

This is the third term at the head of Venezuela for this heir to Hugo Chavez.

Outgoing President Nicolas Maduro, heir to Hugo Chavez, has been re-elected as Venezuela’s leader with 51.2% of the vote, the National Electoral Council (CNE) announced on Monday, July 29. Nicolas Maduro received 5.15 million votes, ahead of opposition candidate Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia, who received just under 4.5 million (44.2%), according to official figures announced by CNE President Elvis Amoroso, after 80% of the ballots had been counted and a turnout of 59%.

The result is “irreversible”did he declare at the end of a campaign in which the opposition denounced intimidation and possible fraud. Nicolas Maduro must thus begin his third six-year term at the head of this oil-producing country plunged into an unprecedented economic crisis, which has forced seven of the 30 million Venezuelans to emigrate.

Greeted by a small fireworks display, Nicolas Maduro stepped out onto a stage at the presidential palace in Caracas to celebrate his victory with his supporters singing “Let’s go Nico”. He promised “peace, stability and justice”.

After the announcement, the United States reacted quickly. “Now that voting is over, it is vitally important that every vote is counted fairly and transparently. We call on electoral authorities to publish detailed vote counts to ensure transparency and accountability.”said US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, expressing of “serious doubts” as to the accuracy of the results.