BTN News: In a fiery response, the Venezuelan government has condemned the stance of 11 American nations that have refused to recognize the re-election of Nicolás Maduro in the controversial presidential elections held on July 28. The Venezuelan administration, in a strongly worded statement, accused these countries of being “violent accomplices” by questioning the legitimacy of the electoral process, which was confirmed by the nation’s Supreme Court, but remains widely contested by the international community.
The governments of Chile, Argentina, Costa Rica, Ecuador, the United States, Guatemala, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, the Dominican Republic, and Uruguay have drawn the ire of Caracas by issuing a joint statement that criticizes the Supreme Court of Venezuela for allegedly attempting to “validate” the election results without proper justification. According to these nations, the election results, which declared Maduro the winner, are tainted by irregularities, including the alleged exclusion of opposition representatives from the official vote count, the failure to publish electoral records, and the refusal to conduct an independent audit.
Venezuela’s government has rebuffed these allegations, denouncing them as a gross violation of international law and an unacceptable interference in Venezuela’s domestic affairs. The statement from Caracas further accuses these countries of endorsing the “criminal violence” that erupted during the post-election protests, for which the Venezuelan government blames the opposition. The government alleges that the protests were fueled by transnational criminal gangs hired to destabilize the country.
The Venezuelan administration has issued a stern demand for “absolute respect” for its sovereignty and independence, asserting that the attempts by foreign governments to influence its internal affairs are part of a broader strategy to force a regime change. Despite the international outcry, Venezuela has vowed to “crush” any actions initiated by these nations against the Venezuelan people, branding their governments as failures.
The international dispute stems from widespread skepticism over the integrity of the electoral process. The opposition coalition, the Democratic Unitary Platform (PUD), has claimed that its candidate, Edmundo González Urrutia, secured a substantial victory in the elections. The PUD has released what it claims to be 83.5% of the electoral records, collected by witnesses and polling station officials, to substantiate its victory. This claim has garnered support from numerous countries and international organizations, further intensifying the diplomatic standoff.
The crux of the controversy lies in the actions of the National Electoral Council (CNE), which declared Maduro the winner without releasing disaggregated results, a key step outlined in the electoral process. This lack of transparency has been a major point of contention for the international community, which has demanded a full and independent audit of the election.
As the international pressure mounts, the Venezuelan government remains defiant, insisting on its narrative of sovereignty and accusing foreign powers of meddling in its internal affairs. The outcome of this diplomatic crisis could have far-reaching implications for Venezuela’s political future and its relationship with the global community.
