Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro faces intense criticism following his declared victory in a contentious presidential election.
What Happened: The opposition, led by candidate Edmundo González, disputes the results, claiming they secured a significant win, according to the Associated Press.
Thousands of supporters rallied outside the United Nations’ offices in Caracas, asserting González’s victory.
Opposition leader Maria Corina Machado, addressing the crowd from atop a truck, called on the National Electoral Council (CNE) to release the voting tally sheets from each precinct, questioning the transparency of the election process.
Machado claimed the opposition coalition had obtained over 84% of the tallies, expressing confidence in González’s victory. She emphasized the opposition’s commitment to a peaceful transition, while González predicted his final vote count would exceed 8 million, compared to the 5.1 million reported by the CNE for Maduro.
González, along with Machado, urged supporters to maintain calm and avoid violence during the protests.
The Organization of American States (OAS) criticized the CNE for not releasing detailed results, labeling the situation as a form of repression and calling for a …