The National Electoral Council (CNE) of Venezuela announced that Gran Polo Patriotico candidate Nicolas Maduro was elected President for the 2025-2031 term. According to initial results, Maduro secured his third presidential term with 51.20% of the vote.
CNE President Elvis Amoroso presented Maduro with his certificate of election following the victory.
Protests Erupt Post-Election
Thousands took to the streets in protest after the results were announced. Maduro responded to the protests on social media platform X.
"The U.S. Is Behind the Coup"
Maduro stated, "We have witnessed over 100 acts of violence and terrorism," blaming the right-wing extremists for these attacks. He accused the United States of being behind the plan, stating, "They used the election campaign to recruit commandos into criminal groups."
In his address to the nation, Maduro said:
"Foreigners, the Gringos, are behind this plan. They always have been. It’s a U.S.-made plan. They plan, and the extreme right executes. They used the election process to harm you. This group is a fascist, violent, and criminal counter-revolutionary group."
Maduro warned of a conspiracy resembling a "color revolution," aimed at escalating violence and committing acts of torture and brutality.
He added, "To achieve this, they brutally attacked two strategic points of the electrical system at noon and 8 PM yesterday, causing power outages. They burned election materials and vehicles. They will all be caught and will become political prisoners; we know their owners."
Background
On July 28, Venezuela held its presidential elections. In the aftermath, clashes between protesters and security forces resulted in one death.
National media reported that demonstrators in Yaracuy state clashed with security forces while protesting the election results.
During the unrest, one person was shot dead, and 46 demonstrators were arrested. Venezuelan Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino Lopez reported that 23 soldiers were injured.
Lopez noted that some soldiers were wounded by gunfire and warned, "We will not allow the country to return to the darkness of 2014, 2017, and 2019. Do not make a wrong move."
Meanwhile, Venezuela’s Attorney General Tarek William Saab stated that significant public property damage occurred during the protests and assured that those responsible would face consequences.
Following the presidential election, dozens of people took to the streets, clashing with police and alleging election fraud.
After the elections concluded, the opposition released a statement yesterday, claiming that the National Electoral Council's (CNE) data was inaccurate and that the results were rigged.
