Venezuela’s Maduro wins third term, electoral authority says

YEREVAN, JULY 29, ARMENPRESS. Nicolás Maduro, the leader of Venezuela, has been reelected president, the election authority has announced, as the country’s opposition alleged voting irregularities. 

Maduro and his opposition rival Edmundo Gonzalez were each claiming victory in a presidential election on Monday morning. 

Maduro won a third term with 51% of the vote, despite multiple exit polls which pointed to an opposition win, Reuters reported citing election results. 

The election authority said opposition candidate Gonzalez won 44% of the vote, though the opposition had earlier said it had "reasons to celebrate" and asked supporters to continue monitoring vote counts.

Maduro, appearing at the presidential palace before cheering supporters, said his reelection is a triumph of peace and stability and reiterated his campaign trail assertion that Venezuela's electoral system is transparent.

He will sign a decree on Monday to hold a "great national dialogue.”

Fireworks sounded over Caracas, as lighted drones formed a brightly-colored image of Maduro in the sky above the presidential palace.

Opposition leader Maria Corina Machado said Gonzalez had won 70% of the vote and that multiple independent exit polls and quick counts decisively showed his victory.

Gonzalez said he was not calling for supporters to take to the streets or commit any acts of violence.

A poll from Edison Research, known for its polling of U.S. elections, had predicted in an exit poll that Gonzalez would win 65% of the vote, while Maduro would win 31%.

About 80% of ballot boxes have been counted, Reuters reported citing national electoral council (CNE) president Elvis Amoroso. He added that the results had been delayed because of an "aggression" against the electoral data transmission system.