Leaders of South American countries reacted differently to the announcement by Venezuela's election office that President Nicolas Maduro had won a third term, despite numerous exit polls pointing to a victory for the opposition, Reuters reported, citing BTA .
"The Maduro regime must understand that the results are hard to believe. The international community and especially the Venezuelan people, including the millions of Venezuelans in exile, demand full transparency ... From Chile we will not recognize any result that cannot be verified,", said Chilean President Gabriel Borich.
"I categorically condemn the series of fraudulent irregularities committed by the Venezuelan government. Peru will not accept the violation of the will of the Venezuelan people,", said Peruvian Foreign Minister Javier Gonzalez-Olaechea.
"Nicolas Maduro, my brother, your victory, which is the victory of the Bolivarian and Chavista people, has clearly and unequivocally crushed the pro-imperialist opposition. They also defeated the regionalist, interventionist and Monroeist right. The people spoke and the Revolution won", said Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel.
Honduras President Xiomara Castro also sent "special congratulations and democratic, socialist and revolutionary greetings to President Nicolás Maduro and the brave people of Venezuela for their undeniable triumph that reaffirms their sovereignty and the historical legacy of General Hugo Chávez.
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"We are closely following this democratic celebration and we welcome the fact that the will of the Venezuelan people in the elections was taken into account. We want to confirm our desire to continue to strengthen our ties of friendship, cooperation and solidarity with the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela," said Bolivian President Luis Arce.
Argentine President Javier Millay said that "Argentina will not recognize another fraud and hopes that this time the armed forces will protect democracy and the will of the people.