Zulia governor and far-right opposition politician Manuel Rosales issues statements to the press. Photo: José Nava/La Verdad.
Former gubernatorial candidate of the far-right party Un Nuevo Tiempo party for Venezuela’s Zulia state, Manuel Rosales, acknowledged his defeat in the elections held on Sunday in Venezuela. Rosales obtained 35.35% of the votes compared to 64.65% for the representative of the ruling Simón Bolívar Grand Patriotic Pole (GPPSB), Luis Caldera, in elections that took place peacefully and calmly, reports AVN.
Rosales made his statement in a short television broadcast this Monday, May 26, extending his gratitude to national media outlets while thanking those who supported him in his political campaign.
“My gratitude to those who supported us and voted for this option, those who watched over the votes at the polling stations, those responsible for the mobilization, and to my party, Un Nuevo Tiempo, the allied parties and groups—thank you very much…,” Rosales said. “We will continue on the electoral path, even with the pain it may cause us; we will continue tirelessly by the side of the people, with the truth at the forefront.”
Figures released by the National Electoral Council (CNE) after the election process and the vote count revealed irreversible results, with 97.61% of votes transmitted and a 42% turnout.
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The result of the elections in the state of Zulia translated into 455,312 votes in favor of Caldera (64.65%), exponentially surpassing the votes obtained by his closest rival, opposition candidate Manuel Rosales, who secured 35.35% of the vote.
The new elected governor, Luis Caldera, addressed the people after the results were released by the CNE and said, “To all of you, to those who voted and those who didn’t, to those who supported us and those who opposed us—I will govern for all of Zulia. For the people of Zulia who are in the fields, who are in the businesses, who are in the streets.”
Translation: Orinoco Tribune
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