Why Are the US and Many Other Observers Disputing the Election Results in Venezuela?
On Monday, Venezuela's National Electoral Council announced a 51% victory for President Nicolas Maduro - yet voting data suggests opposition leader Edmundo González received almost 70% of the vote. As Maduro expels diplomats and jails over 750 Venezuelans in a violent crackdown on dissent, Wilson Center Chief of Staff Eddy Acevedo sits down to discuss the election's results.
Transcript of Video
Why Are the US and Many Other Observers Disputing the Election Results in Venezuela?
This transcript has been lightly edited for clarity.
After tabulating 81% of the voting tallies, also known as actas, the numbers state the following: 3.2 million votes went for Maduro. Equivalent to about 30% and 7.1 million votes went for opposition leader Edmundo González. With an overwhelming mandate at 67%. Secretary of State Blinken has expressed, "serious concerns" that the result announced does not reflect the will or the votes of the Venezuelan people.
Maduro has asked diplomats from the embassies of Argentina, Chile, Costa Rica, Peru, Panama, the Dominican Republic, and Uruguay to leave the country. The people of Venezuela have hit the streets as a protest. Maduro's attempt to steal this election and the Maduro regime has responded with brute force.
At least 12 people have already been killed and Attorney General has stated that over 750 people have been arrested. Maduro's cronies have threatened to even arrest opposition leaders, Maria Corina Machado and Edmundo González. Several days after the election. And yet, still Maduro's own electoral commission has not published a single piece of data at any level, a clear violation of Article 146 in Venezuela's electoral law, which mandates 48 hours for the results to be finalized.
The United States is hoping to rally support from the international community to push for the electoral authorities to publish the detailed tabulation of votes and the data. Many countries in the region have stepped up. Costa Rica has offered asylum to Maria Corina and Edmundo in case they need it. Brazil, Colombia and Mexico are trying to come together to push for transparency in the electoral count.
The people of Venezuela have suffered enough. They have dealt with killings, violence, political repression, electoral manipulation, a lack of a commitment to the basic democratic principles and are living under a ruthless, authoritarian regime. But the people have remained resilient, have continued to fight for freedom, for democracy, and deserve the support of responsible nations around the world. Right now in their time of need.
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