Speaking to supporters in a sports arena, Maduro declared an unavoidable victory. Despite only 13.9% of Venezuelans supporting him in recent polls, compared to opposition leader Maria Corina Machado's 54.5%, her candidacy is uncertain due to a ban on holding public office.

With a March 25 registration deadline, the opposition is under pressure to find a possible substitute for Machado. Meanwhile, the U.S., which rolled back sanctions following a previous election agreement, plans to reintroduce oil sanctions in mid-April due to renewed tensions and the suppression of opposition figures.

Maduro's leadership, beginning in 2013 after Hugo Chavez's death, has seen Venezuela undergo economic collapse and hyperinflation, sparking protests and political unrest.

The 2018 presidential election was boycotted by major opposition groups and deemed illegitimate by the U.S. and others, mirroring the controversy of Maduro's narrow 2013 win claimed fraudulent by opponents.