On Saturday, Josep Borrell, the European Union’s top diplomat, stated that Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has yet to provide the public evidence required to substantiate his claimed victory in July’s elections. This follows the Venezuelan Supreme Court’s endorsement of Maduro’s contested win.
The EU, along with several Latin American countries and the United States, has rejected the court’s certification, demanding that Maduro release the election’s official tally sheets, which are crucial for verifying the vote count in Venezuela.
The EU’s position reflects a broader international skepticism about the legitimacy of the election results. Borrell emphasized that only results that are completely and independently verifiable will be accepted.
The call for transparency is echoed by Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and Colombian President Gustavo Petro, who also insist on the publication of disaggregated and verifiable election data to restore credibility in the electoral process.
While Lula and Petro’s joint statement did not outright reject the court’s certification, they stressed the importance of transparent election results. Both leaders, who are known to be allies of Maduro, have been involved in facilitating dialogue between the Venezuelan government and the opposition.
Their response suggests a cautious approach, balancing diplomatic relations with the need for electoral transparency.
The situation in Venezuela remains tense, with Maduro’s refusal to release the tallies fueling accusations from the opposition of electoral fraud. The main opposition coalition, which claims that former candidate Edmundo González won by a significant margin, has gathered evidence from 80% of polling stations. However, the government disputes these findings, labeling the opposition’s tallies as forged.
The Venezuelan government has dismissed Borrell’s statements as interventionist, warning that continued disrespect from the EU could harm diplomatic and economic relations. Amidst this, Venezuela has experienced widespread unrest, with over 2,000 arrests linked to protests against the election results. The government’s crackdown has intensified fears of violence and repression.
Amid these developments, opposition figure Maria Corina Machado has gone into hiding, and the government plans to investigate González further. Both Lula and Petro have criticized their own previous leniencies towards Maduro, suggesting a shift in stance. They remain committed to facilitating dialogue, asserting that peaceful negotiation is the only viable path to political normalization in Venezuela.
