Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has won a third term with 51% of the vote, the electoral authority said.<br /><br />Maduro, set to extend his 11 years in power, said his re-election is a triumph of peace and stability, reiterating his campaign trail assertion that Venezuela's electoral system was transparent.<br /><br />The results announced by the national electoral council contradict several exit polls which showed a decisive win for opposition candidate Edmundo Gonzalez.<br /><br />Opposition leader Maria Corina Machado, who had been barred from holding public office, said Gonzalez secured 70% of the vote.<br /><br />Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Lin Jian said China congratulated President Maduro on his “successful re-election.”<br /><br />#Venezuela #Maduro #election
