Maduro: Development, Respect for the Sovereignty of Venezuela

Venezuela President Nicolas Maduro, in an address after casting his ballot and signal the commencement of the presidential election process, reiterated the need for solidarity among the citizens of the South American country.

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The president promptly registered his vote at 6:00 a.m. when polls across the Bolivarian Republic opened to the public. Following casting his ballot without incident, Maduro displayed his ballot, thanked election workers and gave an address shortly thereafter.

The president commented that he is always leading the charge in the battle for Venezuela's independence, sovereignty, democracy as well as the country's right for peace.

“We've been here, talking about peace, fighting for peace and achieved it. Today is a historic day, that no one will forget. Today is a day of democracy in the Venezuelan family,” Maduro said.

“We are celebrating freedom. The freedom of the Republic, that we enjoy in this country. The freedom of opinion, of action, mobilization, of thought and the freedom to choose.

"Venezuelans will provide an example of democracy to the rest of the world," Maduro declared. “Who decides in Venezuela today? The people decide."

In the address, the Bolivarian head of state also remarked that "there has been a fierce pressure in attempts to smear the elections in Venezuela, but they were unsuccessful." Maduro had earlier accused the United States of using new sanctions against its government's top officials to undermine the presidential elections.

In that statement, Maduro commented that the sanctions were a part of "a systematic campaign of aggression" by U.S. President Donald Trump's administration and said they had no legal base.

"I will insist that there be a dialogue for peace between all sectors (...) we need to reunite as Venezuelans," the Venezuelan president said Sunday after voting, adding that the government believes that communication is integral to the development of Venezuela. 

"Respect, respect and respect for the sovereignty of Venezuela," the president insisted. 

The traditional activities of the “Toque de Diana” were performed ahead of the president's action to traditionally herald Venezuela's electoral process, on Sunday. 

Just before dawn, at about 5:00 a.m., the ceremonial “Toque de la Diana” is performed to rouse the citizens of the South American country and instruct voters to make their way to polling stations to exercise their franchise.

The “Toque de la Diana” began as a military ritual and celebrates democracy, peace, sovereignty and dignity of the Venezuelan people.

Earlier, Venezuelan nationals around the world visited polling stations to cast their votes in the presidential election. Embassies in countries across Asia, the Middle East and Australia were among the first to installed booths and start the voting process, Venezuelan Foreign Minister Jorge Arreaza announced late Saturday.

"#20M's Venezuelan electoral process starts. Australia, China, India, Malaysia have already begun to receive Venezuelans to legitimately exercise their right to vote," the minister posted to his official Twitter account.