BTN News: Chilean President Gabriel Boric has stressed the need for complete transparency in Venezuela’s elections. Speaking from the United Arab Emirates, where he is on an official visit, Boric said that Venezuela must give all electoral records to independent international observers and the opposition. He stated, “Until this is done, our country will not recognize what the National Electoral Council has declared.”
Boric has discussed this issue with many Latin American and global leaders. He believes that elections, especially ones with a lot of attention, must be fully transparent and checked by non-partisan international observers. The president feels morally obligated to demand full transparency because of the suffering of millions of Venezuelans who have left their country in recent years.
Six hours after the polls closed, the Venezuelan electoral authority announced that President Nicolás Maduro was re-elected for a third term. Maduro received 51.20% of the votes, while his main opponent, Edmundo González Urrutia, received 44.2%. The delay in announcing the results was blamed on a cyberattack on the data transmission system, explained Elvis Amoroso, the president of the electoral authority.
Boric was the first international leader to raise concerns about the delay in vote counting. Before the official results were announced, he posted on the social media platform X, warning that neither the international community nor Chile would accept results that were not “transparent,” “timely,” and reflective of the will expressed at the polls.
Since taking office in March 2022, Boric has been a strong critic of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. This stance is different from other progressive leaders in the region, like Brazil’s Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and Colombia’s Gustavo Petro, who have been more lenient in the past but have recently become more critical.
During the campaign, Maduro confidently predicted his victory. He claimed that he was the only one who could maintain peace and prosperity in Venezuela. He blamed the country’s crisis on many economic sanctions, especially those from the United States.
As Maduro prepares to start his third six-year term on January 10, Venezuela remains under the control of the Chavismo movement, which has ruled the country for 25 years. Boric’s call for transparency highlights the ongoing concern about Venezuela’s democratic processes. This concern has broad implications for the region’s political landscape.
Boric’s demand for transparency shows the global expectation for fair and verifiable elections. It is crucial for maintaining the legitimacy of political leadership and the trust of voters. As Venezuela moves forward, the pressure for transparent governance from both domestic and international actors continues to grow.
This call for transparency is a reminder that democratic integrity is vital. Fair elections are essential for any country. They ensure that leaders are chosen by the people and that their leadership is legitimate. This is not just about Venezuela, but about the importance of democracy everywhere. The international community will keep watching and waiting for real transparency in Venezuela’s elections.
