Nicolás Maduro has been re-elected President of Venezuela. But there are considerable doubts about the election result – and not only among the opposition.
The electoral thriller in Venezuela continues: Nicolás Maduro and his challenger Edmundo González Urrutia are fighting for power in the country. The opposition recently claimed victory for itself and called on the army to disregard the government’s instructions. “We urge you to stop the regime’s unbridled actions against the people and to respect and enforce the results of the July 28 elections,” the opposition announced on Platform X. The “illegal orders” should be ignored and popular sovereignty recognized. The army is Nicolás Maduro’s most important pillar of support.
In recent days, numerous people in the South American country have demonstrated against what they see as rigged elections. Security forces cracked down hard, and at least eleven people have been killed so far, according to the non-governmental organization Foro Penal.
The public prosecutor’s office is now investigating opposition leader María Corina Machado and the government-critical candidate Edmundo González Urrutia. They are accused of forming a criminal organization, conspiracy, usurping office and inciting insurrection, the pro-government authority said.
Opposition has Venezuelans on its side – Maduro the authorities
The opposition accuses the government of electoral fraud and claims victory for its candidate Edmundo González Urrutia, whom it also declared to be the new president in the statement. According to their own statements, the government’s opponents have the detailed results lists from more than 80 percent of the voting districts. According to this, González is said to have received 67 percent of the votes and Maduro only 30 percent.
The party-line electoral authority has officially declared the authoritarian President Nicolás Maduro, who has been in power since 2013, the winner of the election. However, it has not yet published the detailed results for the individual voting districts.
Maduro angered by criticism of election result
Meanwhile, foreign countries are looking at Venezuela with skepticism. Several countries, including the USA, Peru and Argentina, have recognised opposition candidate González Urrutia as the new head of state of Venezuela. The EU has not yet done so, but does not want to recognise Maduro’s re-election either. The reason: the party-line electoral authority CNE has not yet published the detailed results of the individual voting districts. Any attempt to delay the full publication of the official election results will only further call their credibility into question, the EU statement continued. Several countries already doubt the official election result.
The Venezuelan government rejected the statement from Brussels. “Josep Borrell, do not interfere in Venezuela’s affairs. Have respect and be quiet,” wrote Foreign Minister Yvan Gil on X. “This people fought for its independence with blood and fire. Your fascist protégés will never come to power again.”
Many countries had already not recognized Maduro’s re-election in 2018. The then parliamentary president, Juan Guaidó, declared himself interim president. The USA, Germany and other countries recognized him, but he was unable to assert himself in the country – mainly because the military stood behind Maduro. Now, too, the armed forces have once again assured him of their loyalty.
Source: Stern
I have been working in the news industry for over 6 years, first as a reporter and now as an editor. I have covered politics extensively, and my work has appeared in major newspapers and online news outlets around the world. In addition to my writing, I also contribute regularly to 24 Hours World.
