In a controversial decision that has sent shockwaves across the region, Venezuela's government-friendly electoral council declared that Nicolás Maduro once again won the presidential elections. But while Maduro and his followers celebrated the victory outside of the presidential residence, opposition members wasted little time in condemning the results.
First off, in a press conference from the opposition's bunker, María Corina Machado and Edmundo González Urrutia reacted strongly against the results.
Machado said that "Venezuela has a new president-elect and his name is Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia", after which the room erupted in applause. She then added that González got 70% of the vote and that the opposition won in every state of the country.
"The regime knows what happened and what they're planning to do" said Machado. "The international community knows what happened, even past allies of the regime know what happened. But most importantly, Venezuelans know what happened."
Upon his turn, González Urrutia added that "lies have short legs" and that the coalition "will not rest until the will of the Venezuelan people is respected."
Juan Pablo Guanipa, congressman and member of the Comando con Venezuela coalition behind presidential candidate Edmundo González Urrutia, said on his X account that "no one in their right mind believes this farse announced by delinquent Amoroso (president of CNE, the electoral council). He also added that "Edmundo Gonzalez's triumph was evident" and that the coalition would "combat this robbery, backed by the support of a nation that is tired of a hated dictator."
Nadie en su sano juicio cree esa farsa anunciada por el delincuente Amoroso. El mandato del pueblo lo vimos todos en este proceso histórico de hoy. Es evidente el triunfo de Edmundo González y vamos a combatir ese robo, nosotros adelante y con el apoyo de una nación que está...
— Juan Pablo Guanipa (@JuanPGuanipa) July 29, 2024
Former presidential hopeful Leopoldo López also tweeted a blunt statement that read: "CNE announces fraud and all Venezuela knows it" followed by "this fraud is unsustainable."
CNE anuncia un FRAUDE y toda Venezuela lo sabe. Ese fraude no es sostenible.
— Leopoldo López (@leopoldolopez) July 29, 2024
Minutes before the announcement by the electoral council, Edmundo González foreshadowed the results by tweeting that "the results are impossible to hide" and "the country chose a change towards peace."
Los resultados son inocultables. El país eligió un cambio en paz.
— Edmundo González (@EdmundoGU) July 29, 2024
Another previous presidential hopeful, Henrique Capriles, also tweeted ahead of the official announcement, presaging a possible fraud by stating that "hopefully, those in power don't follow the path of hiding THE TRUTH" adding that the Venezuelans wanted "peace to triumph, with respect toward the will of the people which is sacred."
Son casi las 10:30 pm. Este pueblo en cada rincón del país sabe lo que pasó hoy. Ojalá que los que están en el poder no se metan en el camino de desconocer LA VERDAD. Ojalá que por encima de cualquier ambición pongan primero a los venezolanos y al país. Los venezolanos hoy...
— Henrique Capriles R. (@hcapriles) July 29, 2024
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