Nicolás Maduro (PSUV) was re-elected President of Venezuela on May 20. He obtained 67.7% of the vote, which gave him a comfortable lead of 47 points on Henri Falcon (Progressive Advance), a real record, just like the abstention, which reached 53.9%.
The two candidates of the opposition have loudly complained about the electoral process and they have called for a second election in December 2018. During this campaign, the main opposition parties were banned, the opponents remained in prison and the government promised to the voters with a “fatherland cards” some aid.
Russia, China and Cuba congratulated the Venezuelan President, while the Lima Group* countries recalled their ambassadors from Venezuela. The European Union is studying how to impose individual sanctions to the Chavista leaders, and the United States, which does not recognize the legitimacy of the elections, will announce new economic sanctions.
Maduro, who will be President until 2025, cannot continue to ignore the serious crisis of his country and the precarious situation of his fellow citizens. He didn’t take up the challenge after he was elected in 2013.
* The countries of the Lima Group: Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Peru and Santa Lucia.
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