Two Winners

Protests have erupted across Venezuela as both sides are claiming victory in this week’s presidential election.

The National Electoral Council—which is run by the incumbent, Nicolás Maduro’s government—officially says Maduro won 51% to 44%, giving him his third consecutive six-year term. Opposition leaders said they weren’t allowed to have witnesses present during counting, but the tally sheets they obtained for ~9 million votes (73%) show a landslide victory for their candidate, Edmundo Gonzalez.

U.S. Secretary of State Blinken joined other regional leaders like Peru and Chile in expressing serious concerns and calling for transparency from election officials. Russia and China both congratulated Maduro on the victory.

Ahead of the election, many opposition supporters promised to leave Venezuela if Maduro was re-elected, citing the country’s economic collapse and violent repression under his power.

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CHRISTIAN PERSPECTIVE
Just as many Americans view the outcomes of foreign elections with a certain level of detachment, Christians view earthly political outcomes as secondary to the campaign of our eternal home, where we hold our truest citizenship.

“From now on, then, we do not know anyone from a worldly perspective.… in Christ, God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and he has committed the message of reconciliation to us. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, since God is making his appeal through us.”
2 Corinthians 5:16, 19-20 (CSB) (read full passage)