Venezuela's Maduro Claims Victory as Opposition Disputes Election

Political tensions in Venezuela soared anew after President Nicolás Maduro was declared the winner of Sunday’s election and the opposition, rejecting that claim, called on the military to enforce what it said was the will of the people.

After a lengthy delay following the closing of polls, Venezuela’s electoral center said Maduro won 51.2% of the vote, compared with 44.2% for rival Edmundo González. But opposition leader María Corina Machado, who was barred from running, said her coalition had gained access to 40% of the tabulated votes and had González winning 70% of the vote so far.

Machado told reporters after the announcement that Venezuela’s armed forces “have a duty to ensure that the popular sovereignty expressed in the vote is respected.” González, who relied on a network of roughly 30,000 volunteer witnesses at polling stations, urged supporters to avoid protests and said he’d advise them on next steps.

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