Red Vote

How to win an election, Communist style:

The National Electoral Council declared Maduro's victory, handing him a third six-year term. The ministers of defense, communications, technology and the head of the National Assembly were among those in attendance who applauded. “I slept like a newborn baby because it was a historic event,” Maduro said in the nationally televised ceremony. The election was to decide who will take control of an economy recovering from collapse and a population desperate for change. Officials delayed the release of detailed vote tallies from Sunday's election after proclaiming Nicolás Maduro the winner with 51% of the vote, compared with 44% for retired diplomat Edmundo González. The competing claims set up a high-stakes standoff. "Venezuelans and the entire world know what happened,” González said. The opposition vowed it would defend its votes, but González and his allies asked supporters to remain calm and called on the government to avoid stoking conflict.

The Revolution will continue...