By Bond Robertson 
Maria Corina Machado asks people to stay at polling stations to make sure the counting process is going well.
Polling stations in Venezuela were closed overnight until Monday, Norwegian time.
– No one leaves the polling stations until they have proof of the results. “We have already received the numbers of the votes and we are counting them one by one,” says Machado, 56.
The election was marred by turmoil, with some fearing that President Nicolas Maduro, 61, would cheat his way to victory. He has been in power since 2013.
Earlier this month, he spoke, among other things, of the possibility of a bloodbath after the election, but he has softened his tone in recent days.
At the ballot box, the president told reporters he would accept the election results, regardless of the outcome.
Reuters wrote that Machado, 56, was the star of the opposition campaign, but was disqualified from running in the elections in January.
The country's highest court decided so, convicting her of corruption, which she denied.
The baton was handed over to Edmundo Gonzalez (74). He represents the opposition Unity Platform coalition.
Facts about Venezuela
- Venezuela is a federal republic where the President is the head of state, head of government, and commander-in-chief of the army.
- Population: 28,838,499 (2023)
- The President is elected for a six-year term at a time, and may serve an unlimited number of terms.
- In presidential elections, a simple majority of votes wins.
- On two occasions, the Venezuelan presidency has rewritten the constitution to concentrate more power in the hands of the president.
- In practice, the executive, legislative and judicial powers fall under the authority of the president's party.
- Politics is highly polarized, and the country's opposition has boycotted several elections, alleging that they were rigged.
- The authorities severely suppress political opposition, and many opponents have been punished with imprisonment and exile.
Source: United Nations Association
The authorities severely suppress political opposition in the country, and many opponents have been sentenced to prison and exile. The opposition has boycotted several elections, claiming they were rigged.
The country's courts support the government, and legal certainty for citizens is weak.