Incumbent Nicolas Maduro was declared the victor in Venezuela's national election early Monday, securing 51% of the vote according to the electoral council. However, the election has been marred by accusations of fraud and intimidation.

Opposition leader Maria Corina Machado, who was barred from running, claimed that her surrogate, Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia, had actually won 70% of the vote. The electoral council, which is largely loyal to the government, reported that Gonzalez Urrutia garnered only 44%.

Maduro promised "peace, stability, and justice" following the announcement of the results. However, world leaders have expressed doubts about the validity of the vote count, noting that international observers were not allowed to verify the election.

"We want to say to all of Venezuela and the world that Venezuela has a new president-elect and it is Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia," Machado told journalists. "We won."

The controversy over the election results adds to the ongoing political turmoil in Venezuela, with the opposition continuing to challenge the legitimacy of Maduro's presidency.