Venezuelan Election Results Face Scrutiny

Venezuela's presidential election results have sparked controversy, as the electoral authority declared President Nicolas Maduro the winner with 51.2% of the votes, while opposition leader Maria Corina Machado claimed that their candidate, Edmundo Gonzalez, won a decisive 70%. Independent exit polls and the opposition's tally suggest that Gonzalez actually received around 65% of the vote, raising serious questions about the integrity of the election process. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken expressed concerns over the election results, urging for transparency and a full vote count from electoral authorities. The opposition has accused the ruling party of irregularities, including blocking their access to voting tallies and reports of violence at polling stations. As the political situation remains tense, the opposition has vowed to defend the will of the people and challenge the announced results.