Both sides have declared themselves winners in Venezuela.

The result announced by the National Election Commission came as a shock to many, including the leader of the opposition party, as several polling stations indicated a victory for Maduro's socialist opponents, according to the BBC.

– It was clear throughout the election campaign that the elections did not go well. The government headed by Maduro tried to make it as difficult as possible for the opposition, but now the question is whether there was also outright fraud in the elections, says SVT's foreign correspondent Tigran Weiler.

Opposition leader Edmundo Gonzalez wrote on X shortly before the election results were announced that the results were indisputable and that “the country has chosen peaceful change.”

questionable result

Instead of a change of power, Maduro won his third term, despite the fact that many Venezuelans wanted to see change after 25 years of the United Socialist Party in power.

According to the electoral commission, Maduro received 51 percent of the votes, while the opposition Edmundo Gonzalez received 44 percent, after 80 percent of the results of the polling stations were counted.

The last elections in 2018 were called into question as neither free nor fair. Ahead of this year's elections, Gonzalez urged his supporters to remain vigilant at polling stations to reduce the risk of voter fraud. According to a correspondent for foreign broadcaster SVT, there are now concerns about a “violent development,” which the president highlighted in his victory speech.

– He says he will deal with those who try to destabilize the country. It's a way Maduro uses to scare people so they don't go out and demonstrate in the streets, says a correspondent for foreign channel SVT.

“strong anxiety”

The electoral commission, controlled by Maduro loyalists, did not immediately release results from all polling stations, making it difficult for the opposition to prove fraud.

“We are already seeing how countries are putting themselves in their place,” says Tigran Weiler.

Among other things, Chilean President Gabriel Boric said he would not accept Maduro as president if concrete numbers were not presented, and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken criticized the outcome.

“We are deeply concerned that the published result does not reflect the will or voices of the people of Venezuela,” he says.