Venezuela,Caracas: Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has been declared the winner of a third term, receiving 51 percent of the vote according to the country's electoral authority. This announcement was made just after midnight on July 29, with 80 percent of the ballot boxes counted.

Despite the official results, multiple exit polls had predicted a victory for the opposition. 

The electoral authority reported that opposition candidate Edmundo Gonzalez garnered 44 percent of the vote. Earlier, the opposition had expressed optimism, urging supporters to continue monitoring the vote count, claiming they had "reasons to celebrate."

Before the results were declared, Gonzalez posted on X around 11 pm local time, saying, "The outcome is clear. The nation has peacefully opted for change."

Opposition leader Maria Corina Machado also called on the military to respect the election outcome. "The citizens of Venezuela have made their stance clear: they reject Maduro," she expressed on X. "Now is the moment to align with the right side of history. This is your opportunity, and it is urgent."

Venezuela's military, which has consistently supported Maduro, a 61-year-old former bus driver and foreign minister, has shown no public signs of dissent.

Exit polls conducted by Edison Research and local firm Meganalisis had predicted a strong lead for Gonzalez, with Edison Research forecasting 65 percent of the vote for Gonzalez and 31 percent for Maduro. Meganalisis had Gonzalez at 65 percent and Maduro at just under 14 percent.

National Electoral Council (CNE) president Elvis Amoroso, in a televised statement, "The citizens of Venezuela have made their stance clear: they reject Maduro," she expressed on X. Now is the moment to align with the right side of history. This is your opportunity, and it is urgent.