After re-election, Venezuela’s Maduro faces foreign backlash

CARACAS: Venezuela’s socialist President Nicolas Maduro faced widespread international condemnation on Monday after his re-election in a vote his critics denounced as a farce. The 55-year-old successor to late leftist leader Hugo Chavez hailed his win as a victory against “imperialism.” But his main challengers alleged irregularities and refused to recognise the result. Venezuela’s mainstream opposition boycotted Sunday’s vote, given two of its most popular leaders were barred, authorities had banned the coalition and various of its parties, and the election board is run by Maduro loyalists.

The president took 68 per cent of votes — more than three times as many as his main challenger, Henri Falcon. However, potentially undermining his legitimacy, turnout was a low 46 per cent, compared with 80 per cent at the last presidential election in 2013. Thousands of Maduro supporters, many wearing red berets, hugged and danced past midnight outside the Miraflores presidential palace in the capital, Caracas, showered in confetti in the yellow, blue and red colours of the Venezuelan national flag.