04:10Venezuelan expatriates in Madrid rallied in support of opposition Maria Corina Machado and lead candidate Edmundo Gonzalez, ahead of the results of the country's presidential election.
Footage filmed on Sunday shows members of the diaspora displaying a giant Venezuelan flag while holding placards with powerful messages, such as: "Venezuelans are voting today for you, for their homeland, for everything we hope for. Satan out." They were also heard chanting "Freedom".
"All Venezuelans hope for, to have freedom, to have peace, to return to our country and that God enlightens and blesses all Venezuelans who are outside and those who are inside [the country]. And we wish the best, the best for our country," said one.
"[We want] the total triumph, not of María Corina, but of the Venezuelan people. With Edmundo and María Corina, our hopes [are] for this [Maduro] regime to fall and for us to have a free Venezuela, free for our children and therefore for all of us," said another.
Later on Sunday night, Nicolas Maduro was declared winner by the National Electoral Council, marking his third consecutive term in office. Maduro has been in power since 2013, while his United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV) has governed the country since 2007.
His main challenger was Gonzalez, a 74-year-old former diplomat. Opposition frontrunner Machado backed Gonzalez after she was banned from taking part amid corruption allegations which she denies.
Around 17 million people were eligible to vote. Polling stations were open between 6 am and 6 pm local time.
'We have faith' - Venezuelan expatriates gather in Madrid in support of opposition leaders following presidential vote
Venezuelan expatriates in Madrid rallied in support of opposition Maria Corina Machado and lead candidate Edmundo Gonzalez, ahead of the results of the country's presidential election.
Footage filmed on Sunday shows members of the diaspora displaying a giant Venezuelan flag while holding placards with powerful messages, such as: "Venezuelans are voting today for you, for their homeland, for everything we hope for. Satan out." They were also heard chanting "Freedom".
"All Venezuelans hope for, to have freedom, to have peace, to return to our country and that God enlightens and blesses all Venezuelans who are outside and those who are inside [the country]. And we wish the best, the best for our country," said one.
"[We want] the total triumph, not of María Corina, but of the Venezuelan people. With Edmundo and María Corina, our hopes [are] for this [Maduro] regime to fall and for us to have a free Venezuela, free for our children and therefore for all of us," said another.
Later on Sunday night, Nicolas Maduro was declared winner by the National Electoral Council, marking his third consecutive term in office. Maduro has been in power since 2013, while his United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV) has governed the country since 2007.
His main challenger was Gonzalez, a 74-year-old former diplomat. Opposition frontrunner Machado backed Gonzalez after she was banned from taking part amid corruption allegations which she denies.
Around 17 million people were eligible to vote. Polling stations were open between 6 am and 6 pm local time.
Venezuelan expatriates in Madrid rallied in support of opposition Maria Corina Machado and lead candidate Edmundo Gonzalez, ahead of the results of the country's presidential election.
Footage filmed on Sunday shows members of the diaspora displaying a giant Venezuelan flag while holding placards with powerful messages, such as: "Venezuelans are voting today for you, for their homeland, for everything we hope for. Satan out." They were also heard chanting "Freedom".
"All Venezuelans hope for, to have freedom, to have peace, to return to our country and that God enlightens and blesses all Venezuelans who are outside and those who are inside [the country]. And we wish the best, the best for our country," said one.
"[We want] the total triumph, not of María Corina, but of the Venezuelan people. With Edmundo and María Corina, our hopes [are] for this [Maduro] regime to fall and for us to have a free Venezuela, free for our children and therefore for all of us," said another.
Later on Sunday night, Nicolas Maduro was declared winner by the National Electoral Council, marking his third consecutive term in office. Maduro has been in power since 2013, while his United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV) has governed the country since 2007.
His main challenger was Gonzalez, a 74-year-old former diplomat. Opposition frontrunner Machado backed Gonzalez after she was banned from taking part amid corruption allegations which she denies.
Around 17 million people were eligible to vote. Polling stations were open between 6 am and 6 pm local time.