UPDATE - Italy, Spain express concerns regarding Venezuelan election results

UPDATES WITH STATEMENT FROM SPANISH FOREIGN MINISTER; REVISES HEADLINE, DECK, LEDE

By Merve Berker

Italian and Spanish foreign ministers on Monday expressed doubts and concerns over election results in Venezuela.

“I have several doubts regarding the regular course of the elections in #Venezuela,” Antonio Tajani said on X.

“We call for a check of the results and access to the records: does the result proclaiming Maduro's victory really reflect the will of the people?” he added.

Separately, Spain’s Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares called for “total transparency” and for Venezuelan authorities to publish the results of each polling station.

“We are still in very early moments of counting,” Albares told broadcaster Cadena Ser.

“Spain is working for a calm and democratic situation like the one that prevailed during yesterday’s voting. We are working with our brother countries in the region and the EU high representative.”

Nicolas Maduro, 61, has been declared the winner of Venezuela’s presidential election, securing 51% of the vote against 44% received by opposition leader Edmundo Gonzalez, according to the National Electoral Council (CNE).

The announcement was made early on Monday by Elvis Amoroso, head of the electoral authority, who said the results are based on 80% of voting stations.

In his victory speech, Maduro said that his reelection would bring peace and reiterated that fascism "will not happen" in the country.

"The voice of peace triumphed, and in Venezuela there will be peace, peace and peace for our country," he said.

The opposition claims that the results announced by the CNE do not correspond to the votes cast.

*Alyssa McMurtry contributed to this report from Oviedo