Maduro Wins Presidential Election in Venezuela as Opposition Protests

Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has been declared the winner of the highly controversial presidential election by the electoral authority. Maduro received a majority of 51.2% of the votes, while the main opposition candidate, Edmundo González Urrutia, received 44.2%.

The opposition immediately rejected the official results, and international criticism followed, including accusations of fraud. The election turnout was reported to be 59%.

Maduro promised 'peace, stability, and justice' in Venezuela, while the opposition claimed victory for González Urrutia. The international community, including the US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and the EU's Josep Borrell, expressed skepticism about the election results.

Venezuela has been facing a severe economic crisis, hyperinflation, a decline in oil production, and a shrinking GDP, leading to widespread criticism of Maduro's government. The country has seen a mass exodus of Venezuelans fleeing the economic and political crisis.

Maduro's 2018 re-election was not recognized by most western countries and resulted in the imposition of sanctions. The situation remains tense as Maduro's victory is disputed and protests continue.