Nicolas Maduro declared winner in Venezuelan presidential election

The announcement sets the stage for a high-stakes political showdown that could determine the future of Venezuela's one-party rule.

Elvis Amoroso, head of the National Electoral Council, announced that Maduro, 61, secured 51 percent of the vote, defeating opposition candidate Edmundo González, who garnered 44 percent. These results were based on 80 percent of voting stations, indicating an irreversible trend, according to Amoroso.

The official results contradict several exit polls that had predicted a victory for González. Representing a coalition of opposition parties, González emerged as the main challenger after leading opposition figure Maria Corina Machado was banned from running for office. An opposition victory would have marked the end of 25 years of socialist rule in Venezuela.

The election comes against the backdrop of a decade-long economic collapse in Venezuela, which has led nearly one-third of the population to leave the country. Additionally, Western sanctions have further strained the nation's critical oil industry.

President Maduro addressed his supporters in Caracas following the announcement, celebrating his victory amid a deeply divided nation facing significant economic and political challenges. (ILKHA)