In the run-up to the election, poll data showed the opposition candidate as the favourite. Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutiaan “outsider” chosen by the charismatic and popular opposition leader Maria Corina Machado, who was prevented from running due to a political disqualification. Even so, Maduro was seven points ahead of Gonzalez, according to 80% of the votes counted, made public on Sunday by the electoral authority, controlled by Chavez, an announcement that unleashed a tidal wave.
Elections in Venezuela: the international reaction
The head of American diplomacy, Antony Blinken, expressed his “serious concern” that the announced electoral result in Venezuela does not reflect the will of the people, and called for a “fair and transparent” recount of the votes.
“Now that voting has concluded, it is vitally important that every vote is counted fairly and transparently. We call on the electoral authorities to publish detailed vote counts (minutes) to ensure transparency and accountability,” he said.
The chancellor of Colombia, Luis Gilberto Murillo, This Monday he asked for a “a complete count of the votes, their verification and independent audit” to “clear up any doubts about the results.”
The head of diplomacy of the European Union, Josep Borrellasked Venezuela on Monday to guarantee “total transparency in the electoral process, including detailed counting of votes and access to voting records at polling stations.”
The Minister Spanish of Foreign Affairs, JJose Manuel Albares, On Monday, he asked Venezuela to guarantee a “total transparency” in the counting of votes, the “publication of the minutes table by table” and that “calm and civility remain.”
“DICTATOR MADURO, OUT!!!” wrote the president Javier Milei, en his X account before the official results were released. “The data announce a crushing victory for the opposition and the world is waiting for it to recognize defeat after years of socialism, misery, decadence and death,” he added. “Argentina will not recognize another fraud and expects the Armed Forces to defend democracy and the popular will this time.”
Chilean President Gabriel Boric He said the announced results are ““hard to believe” and demanded “total transparency of the minutes and the processand that international observers not committed to the government account for the veracity of the results.”
“Chile will not recognize any result that is not verifiable,” he added.
Peruvian Foreign Minister Javier González-Olaechea He announced in X that he will call the Peruvian ambassador to Venezuela for consultation “in light of the very serious official announcements by the Venezuelan electoral authorities.”
The president of Costa Rica, Rodrigo Chaves, “categorically repudiated the proclamation of Nicolás Maduror as president of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, which we consider fraudulent,” in a message posted on X.
For the Uruguayan president, Luis Lacalle Pou, “you cannot recognize a victory if you do not trust the way and the mechanisms used to achieve it.” “It was an open secret. They were going to ‘win’ regardless of the actual results. The process up to the day of the election and the counting of votes was clearly flawed,” he added on his X account.
“Venezuela deserves transparent, accurate results that are in line with the will of its people,” wrote the president of Guatemala, social democrat Bernardo Arévalo, in X, who also said he had received “the results with many doubts.”
“I have many doubts about the regular conduct of the elections in Venezuela,” wrote Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani on the X network, demanding “results that can be verified.”
Governments close to Maduro’s also spoke out without fail, under whose mandate Venezuela sank into an acute economic and humanitarian crisis that forced more than seven million people to flee, according to the UN.
China, which maintains close ties with Venezuelacongratulated Nicolás Maduro on Monday for his re-election and noted that “she is willing to enrich the strategic partnership” with the Latin American country, said a spokesman for the Chinese Foreign Ministry.
“Today the dignity and courage of the Venezuelan people triumphed over pressures and manipulations,” he celebrated. Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel in X.
To Maduro “our Tribute and Greeting, in Honor, Glory and for More Victories,” the Nicaraguan ruler launched, Daniel Ortega, sending him “our usual hug.”
Bolivian President Luis Arcegreeted that “the will of the Venezuelan people has been respected at the polls,” while he ratified his “will to continue strengthening our ties of friendship.”
The Honduran President, Xiomara Castrocongratulated Maduro for “his i“an unquestionable victory, which reaffirms its sovereignty and the historical legacy of Commander @chavezcandanga,” the late Hugo Chávez, who anointed him as his successor.
Source: Ambito
