In what has been described as the "largest electoral fraud in Latin America's history," overwhelming evidence suggests that Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro attempted to steal the presidential election, with retired diplomat Edmundo González being the true winner. Despite allegations of fraud and international pressure for proof of his victory, Maduro clings to power, refusing to disclose the voting tallies.

Analyses conducted by the opposition, academics, and media organizations paint a clear picture of Maduro's defeat by a landslide. Countries that were once sympathetic to Maduro, including Brazil, Colombia, and Mexico, have recognized González as the rightful winner, further questioning Maduro's claim. Even within Venezuela, independent observers agree that the electoral process was ridden with irregularities from the start.

The irregularities range from blocking opposition candidates from running, such as María Corina Machado, who was then replaced by González, to hindering millions of Venezuelans living abroad from casting their votes. Dozens of opposition members were arrested during the campaign, and international observers were either denied access or disinvited from monitoring the vote. Additionally, reports surfaced of polling stations being moved without warning and some being kept open long after closing time in traditionally pro-Maduro areas.

Years of economic decline and a humanitarian crisis have fueled discontent among Venezuelans, leading to strong support for González in opinion polls. Political science professor Javier Corrales even hailed the opposition's electoral victory as one of the most impressive in Latin America's history. However, the opposition was prepared for potential fraud, diligently collecting voting tallies from polling stations, which overwhelmingly showed González's victory.

Independent analyses from news outlets like the Associated Press and the Washington Post echo the opposition's findings, while election forensics professor Walter R Mebane Jr of the University of Michigan confirmed the legitimacy of the opposition's tallies. US officials also agreed that falsifying such tallies would be nearly impossible.

Despite a legal obligation to disclose the voting tallies, Maduro has refused to do so, citing alleged hacking attacks on the electoral council. Efforts by González and Machado to urge the police and armed forces to side with the people and respect the voice of the voters led to a criminal investigation against them. The defense minister, Vladimir Padrino, reaffirmed the military's loyalty to Maduro, dampening hopes of a regime change through military intervention.

While diplomatic pressure from countries like the United States, which has recognized González as the winner, is important, experts emphasize the role of governments trusted by Venezuela and whether they can persuade Maduro that his time is up. The spotlight falls on Brazil, Colombia, and Mexico as key players in affecting meaningful change.

As Maduro clings to power amid mounting evidence of electoral fraud, Venezuela's political crisis deepens. The world watches eagerly for any signs of a breakthrough that could lead to a fair and democratic resolution of the situation.