Tension rises on election day in Venezuela

Venezuela held a presidential election on Sunday amidst a tense atmosphere. The election saw incumbent president Nicolás Maduro seeking a third term, while opposition candidate Edmundo González Urrutia was predicted to win in the polls.

The election process was marred by concerns of potential fraud, with the opposition and international community urging transparency and access to voting records. Prior to the election, Maduro had made statements suggesting he would not relinquish power if he lost.

Despite these tensions, the election proceeded peacefully, with millions of Venezuelans casting their votes. The electoral authority declared Maduro the winner with 51.2% of the votes, but the opposition, led by María Corina Machado and González Urrutia, rejected the results, claiming fraud.

The international community, including the US, EU, and several Latin American countries, expressed concerns about the transparency of the election. Russia and China, however, congratulated Maduro on his victory.

The outcome of the election has further deepened the political divide in Venezuela, with uncertainty looming over the country's future.