Venezuela’s unofficial dictator, President Nicolás Maduro, allegedly “won” re-election in what is widely being reported as a “sham election.”
The election “results” reportedly broke by as much as 40% from preliminary and exit polls, which showed opposition leader Edmundo González comfortably in the lead.
“We won and everyone knows it,” said María Corina, a supporter of González, according to Breitbart. “We want to tell all of Venezuela and the world that Venezuela has a new president-elect and it is Edmundo González Urrutia. González Urrutia obtained 70 percent of the votes and Nicolás Maduro 30 percent. This is the truth.”
Under Maduro, Venezuela has faced severe economic crises, hyperinflation, and widespread poverty. Political repression and human rights violations have escalated, which has led to mass illegal immigration to the United States and parts of Latin America. The government’s authoritarian grip has deepened, with frequent crackdowns on opposition and dissent, further exacerbating the country’s instability and humanitarian challenges.
Now, the “president” is lashing out on the world stage, breaking ties with countries in Latin America that had the courage to call a spade a spade.
Here’s some of what Breitbart reported on Maduro’s little temper tantrum:
Venezuela’s socialist Maduro regime broke ties with seven Latin American countries after their governments questioned the results of Sunday’s sham presidential election and dictator Nicolás Maduro’s “victory.”
The decision forces the immediate withdrawal of the diplomatic representatives from Argentina, Chile, Costa Rica, Peru, Panama, the Dominican Republic, and Uruguay from Venezuelan territory.
Venezuelan electoral authorities — controlled in their entirety by the ruling socialist regime — proclaimed Maduro the “winner” of Sunday’s sham election, claiming he had obtained 51.2 percent of the votes.
The Venezuelan opposition has contested the results and claimed it has evidence that their candidate, Edmundo González, obtained an overwhelming victory against the dictator. In addition to widespread suspicions that election authorities manipulated the numbers, Maduro handpicked the candidates on the ballot and ensured his own face appeared on it 13 times. Opposition members have also complained of violence against their campaign staff and the unlawful arrests of several dissidents, ensuring the election was far from free and fair.
Several countries have called the election’s results into question. The United States, the United Kingdom, Colombia, and the European Union have called for a transparent recount of the votes, while countries such as Argentina, Chile, El Salvador, and Ecuador have not recognized Maduro’s “victory” as legitimate.