Venezuela’s Supreme Court confirms Maduro’s election victory

BOGOTA: Venezuela's Supreme Court ruled Thursday that President Nicolas Maduro won the July 28 presidential election. National media reported that the court's electoral chamber ruled on the long-disputed election results between the ruling party and the opposition. The court found no irregularities in the results announced by the National Electoral Council (CNE) on July 29, officially confirming Maduro's win. Judge Caryslia Beatriz Rodriguez said the CNE's bulletins matched the polling stations' reports, aligning with the national counting centers' data. She added that a major cyberattack on the CNE's system occurred after the election. As the highest judicial authority, the Supreme Court validates the legitimacy of elections in Venezuela. When election results are disputed, it issues a final ruling, and its confirmation of Maduro's victory makes the results legally binding. According to the CNE's July 29 results, Maduro won 51.2 percent of the vote, securing a third term. Opposition candidates Edmundo Gonzalez and María Corina Machado rejected the outcome. Meanwhile, Maduro hailed the decision of the court. He claimed that his confirmation was a 'historic victory.' Speaking at the unveiling of a Hugo Chávez statue in La Guaira, Maduro praised the ruling, emphasizing respect for the rule of law, sovereignty, and justice. Source: Philippines News Agency