Venezuela Supreme Justice Tribunal confirms Maduro as winner of contested election
Maduro is now in his third six-year period as leader of the country. He was elected for the first time in 2012 and began his tenure in January 2013.
Venezuela’s highest court ratified Nicolas Maduro’s reelection win on Thursday, finding that the leader was legal reelected last year despite widespread protests.
Venezuela’s National Electoral Council has not published a complete report. The NEC claimed that the embattled president won the July 28 election with just over 50% of the votes. Maduro’s critics have denied the claims, saying that Edmundo Gonzalez received 67% of votes.
Reuters reports that Caryslia Rodriquez, the president of the Supreme Justice Tribunal in Venezuela, said the court had reviewed the NEC report and agreed Maduro won.
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Rodriguez stated that “the results of the presidential elections of July 28, released by the National Electoral Council, where Nicolas Maduro has been elected president of this republic, have been validated.”
Rodriguez said that the decision cannot be appealed. Opposition leaders, however, claim that the court has no constitutional authority to interfere in the election.
Gonzalez, after the ruling, posted on social media that “Sovereignty is with the people and it is not transferable.” “Organs and state are derived from popular sovereignty and subject to it.”
Maduro is now in his third six-year period as leader of the country. First elected in 2012, he took office in 2013.
The backlash against the elections has led to widespread protests, and criminal investigations of Maria Corina Machado. Both are under investigation for a number of crimes, including inciting military personnel to commit crimes.
