Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro next to the National Electoral Council President Elvis Amoroso after the ceremony certifying of his victory in Sunday's presidential elections. Photo: X/@PresidencialVen.
Caracas (OrinocoTribune.com)—From the headquarters of Venezuela’s National Electoral Council (CNE) in Caracas and in the presence of officials, international electoral observers, and the diplomatic corps, Nicolás Maduro was proclaimed President of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela for the period 2025-2031 by the Venezuelan electoral power.
President Nicolás Maduro received the confirmation of his re-election as President of the Republic this Monday, July 29, after obtaining over 51% of the votes. He expressed gratitude for the trust placed in him and the massive participation in Sunday’s presidential elections.
“An attempt is being made to impose a coup d’état in Venezuela again, of a fascist and counterrevolutionary nature. I could call it a kind of Guaidó 2.0,” reported President Nicolás Maduro in the afternoon on Monday, July 29.
From the electoral body’s headquarters, President Maduro stated that sectors of the right wing “are attempting the first failed steps to destabilize Venezuela, to impose, once again, a cloak of aggression and damage on Venezuela, a kind of Guaidó 2.0 scenario. But I say to the conspirators, those involved, and those who endorse this new guarimba operation against Venezuelan democracy, we already know the scenario. And this time, there will not be any kind of weakness. This time in Venezuela, the Constitution and the law will be respected, and neither hatred nor fascism nor manipulation will prevail.”
He said that Venezuela has already experienced these types of destabilization attempts. The leaders are the same. On the one hand, the people want peace and democracy, and on the other hand, “the elites are full of hate, fascists tied to the US empire.”
“We know this plan, and the most recent scenario is indeed the one I just mentioned, a scenario of lies, of fraud…” he said, adding that the situation involving Juan Guaidó involved the theft of Venezuelan assets abroad and that this sector of the opposition deceived the world. “They stole with both hands. This group has turned the conspiracy in Venezuela into a big business to become multimillionaires: Leopoldo López, Julio Borges, Juan Guaidó, Antonio Ledezma… They are all multimillionaires at the expense of the suffering of a people, at the expense of the permanent conspiracy, at the expense of sowing hatred in the hearts of Venezuelans who have believed their lies.”
Social media hate and fake news
Maduro condemned fascists for using social media platforms to spread hatred in Venezuela, aiming to divide the country. He suggested that the National Assembly soon initiate a discussion to regulate social media platforms.
Meanwhile, dozens of fake videos, videos taken out of context, old videos showing violence, and videos unrelated to Venezuela have been spread on social media to create a trend of an alleged revolt in the country.
On this issue, President Maduro pointed toward Elon Musk, who has recently posted a series of messages directly interfering in Venezuelan elections and calling President Maduro a “dictator.” Specifically, President Maduro referred to a post where Musk attached an old video showing a robbery of washing machines, claiming that it was about the theft of ballot boxes in a Venezuelan voting center. The falsity of the post was so evident that X itself had to make a note correcting Musk. The post was then deleted.
However, Musk continued to post videos of alleged protests that are, in reality, guarimbas organized in 2017 or previous years. In a clear display of recklessness, the billionaire has dedicated the last two days to spreading fake news about Venezuela.
After greeting the diplomatic corps accredited in Venezuela and over 900 international electoral observers, Maduro condemned the mainstream media and social media platforms controlled by the US empire for invisibilizing the election’s observers, who witnessed Sunday’s presidential election first-hand.
Minority opposition presidential candidates concede
The majority of candidates also recognized Nicolás Maduro’s victory. However, the far-right opposition insists on ignoring the results and claiming fraud even before the results were announced.
One of the first candidates to speak out was Benjamín Rausseo, who, through a video, requested that the verdict of the first electoral bulletin be respected, expressing his support for the CNE. “After the referee has announced the verdict, the next step is to turn the page on the election and start a new chapter together… It is up to the winner to send the necessary signals and messages that will help lower the level of conflict,” said Rausseo.
The candidate for the Arepa Digital party, Daniel Ceballos, congratulated all Venezuelans on the elections, stating that the country is capable of resolving differences through voting.
Likewise, the candidate for Primero Justicia (PJ), José Brito, recalled that they committed to always respecting the results of the CNE. “We said we would recognize the election results and the call for peace,” Brito said.
Finally, the presidential candidate of Democratic Action (AD), Luis Eduardo Martínez, also recognized Nicolás Maduro’s victory. Martínez said it is time for peace forged through dialogue, reconciliation, and consensus “because there is nothing more important than peace.” He called for moving forward together and burying the hatred.
World leaders congratulate Maduro
Meanwhile, leaders of several countries, including China, Russia, Iran, Cuba, Honduras, Nicaragua, Belarus, and Bolivia, among others, congratulated President Maduro.
China: China hailed the election as a “successful organization” and said, “We congratulate the great people of Venezuela and his excellency Nicolás Maduro, the re-elected president, for the successful holding of the presidential elections in a safe, peaceful, transparent, democratic, and competitive environment with massive and broad participation of the people.”
Honduras: Through social media, Honduran President Xiomara Castro wrote, “Our special congratulations and democratic, socialist, and revolutionary greetings to President Nicolás Maduro and the brave people of Venezuela for their unquestionable victory, which reaffirms their sovereignty and the historical legacy of Commander Hugo Chávez.”
Nicaragua: After the CNE announced the results, Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega and Vice President Rosario Murillo released a statement. “Dear comrade and brother Nicolás: In full revolutionary and evolutionary brotherhood, from the blessed and always free Nicaragua, our usual embrace, saluting the great victory that this heroic people delivered to the eternal Commander [Hugo Chávez] on his birthday. To you, President Nicolás, to Cilia [Flores], to the PSUV [United Socialist Party of Venezuela], to the youth, and all Venezuelan families, our homage and greetings in honor, glory, and for more victories. Always beyond! Peace exists!” the Nicaraguan leaders added.
Cuba: Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel said, “Today, the dignity and courage of the Venezuelan people triumphed over pressure and manipulation. I convey to brother President Nicolás Maduro our warm congratulations for this historic victory and Cuba’s commitment to stand alongside the Bolivarian and Chavista Revolution.”
Iran: The Iranian embassy in Caracas expressed joy at President Nicolás Maduro’s victory and congratulated the people for the peaceful and transparent day.
Russia: President Vladimir Putin congratulated the re-elected President Maduro, saying he is always welcome in Russia. He also stated, “Russian-Venezuelan relations have the character of a strategic partnership.” Meanwhile, the Russian Foreign Ministry recognized the transparency of Venezuela’s presidential elections and called on political forces inside and outside the country to avoid provocations.
The Foreign Ministry stated, “The elections were held in an orderly manner, in a peaceful and calm environment, without serious violations despite the continued challenges to public security, as confirmed by statements by international observers.” Moscow added that its electoral observers verified the transparency and impartiality of the electoral process in Venezuela.
Bolivia: The Bolivian President Luis Arce said Maduro’s electoral victory was a “great way” to remember Hugo Chávez. “We congratulate the Venezuelan people and President Nicolás Maduro for this historic July 28 electoral victory. It is a great way to remember Commander Hugo Chávez. We have closely followed this democratic celebration, and we welcome the fact that the will of the Venezuelan people at the polls has been respected,” wrote Arce.
“We want to confirm our willingness to continue strengthening our ties of friendship, cooperation, and solidarity with the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela within the framework of the sovereign integration of our peoples and in the shared objective of moving towards a multipolar world,” he added.
Maduro Celebrates Victory With Massive Chavista Demonstration at Miraflores Palace (+Argentina)
Syria: Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad also commended his Venezuelan counterpart, expressing his congratulations to the friendly people of Venezuela for the success of the electoral process where they demonstrated their adherence to the sovereignty and constitution of Venezuela and their free and independent will, far from any attempt to interfere in their internal affairs.
Al-Assad highlighted Syria’s continued interest in ensuring that the historically friendly relations between Syria and Venezuela take an upward trend at all levels, strengthening bilateral cooperation and broadening its prospects to achieve the common interest of the two friendly countries and their peoples.
Belarus: On behalf of the Belarusian people and himself, Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko congratulated Nicolás Maduro on his victory in the Venezuelan presidential election, the Belorussian news agency BelTA reported. “The people of your country supported the course of building a modern and independent state in which the people can determine their own destiny. Under very difficult conditions, the Venezuelan government has achieved a progressive economic recovery and improved the standard of living of ordinary citizens. The firm position of official Caracas is well received on all international platforms,” the congratulatory message stated.
President Lukashenko expressed his belief that under Nicolás Maduro’s leadership, Venezuela will continue to advance safely along the path of strengthening its sovereignty and developing its capabilities in numerous areas. “Minsk is ready to take an active part in this, which was confirmed during the recent visit of the Prime Minister of the Republic of Belarus to Caracas.”
Qatar: “I congratulate the President of Venezuela, Nicolás Maduro, on his re-election to a new presidential term. I wish him success and the continued development and construction process in his country and for his friendly people’s continued prosperity, progress, and peace. I am looking forward to our joint work to strengthen bilateral relations in all fields,” wrote Tamim Bin Hamad, the Emir of Qatar, on social media.
Special for Orinoco Tribune by staff
OT/JRE/SF
