Since then, poor financial administration and sanctions from the European Union and the U.S. have led to nightmarish financial situations and widespread starvation, pushing virtually 8 million individuals to depart the nation.
González, a 74-year-old retired diplomat, was a last-minute substitute for María Corina Machado, the principle opposition chief, who was barred from standing.
Maduro, Chávez’s chosen successor, gained elections in 2013 and 2018, although the opposition boycotted the latter. He brought about alarm earlier this month by saying {that a} large electoral victory was essential to keep away from “a massacre, or a fratricidal civil warfare triggered by the fascists.”
This assertion drew a rebuke from Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, the president of Brazil, which shares a big border with Venezuela and is the largest energy within the area. Lula had beforehand been reluctant to criticize fellow left-winger Maduro.
An exit ballot by U.S.-based Edison Analysis, launched as voting ended at 6 p.m. native time, predicted that opposition candidate Edmundo González would win 65 % of votes to Maduro’s 31 %.
The Edison Analysis exit ballot was carried out nationwide with 6,846 voters interviewed at 100 polling places.
Some Venezuelans overseas have reported issue voting, however have made themselves seen on polling day in cities all through Latin America and in locations like Spain’s Canary Islands.
In Venezuela, there have been lengthy strains to vote, with some individuals queuing from Saturday night time. Official outcomes might be printed late on Sunday or within the following days. A number of international locations, together with Brazil, have despatched unbiased observers to Venezuela.
