The appointed Cuban leader Miguel Díaz-Canel has once again expressed his support on social media for the proclamation of Nicolás Maduro as the winner of the elections held on Sunday, July 28. This endorsement has swiftly drawn criticism from Cubans, who view the election as fraudulent, a sentiment shared by much of the international community.
“I watched your press conference on teleSURtv, and I congratulate you again, brother Nicolás Maduro. The imperial recognition of the losing candidate is another proof of who is pulling the strings of the conspiracy against the Bolivarian Revolution. Your crushing denunciation exposed them,” wrote Díaz-Canel on the social media platform X (formerly known as Twitter).
However, Díaz-Canel's words have sparked a wave of critical responses from Cuban followers, urging him to demand that his “friend” “show the records” that declare him the victor in the electoral contest.
“The message from Havana is crystal clear: Maduro, deny everything and buy time… it’s worked for us for 65 years,” commented one user.
Another person noted that while Díaz-Canel congratulates the Venezuelan, in Cuba, “people are eating from garbage cans; they have 20-hour blackouts; there is no fuel, and the whole island is a prison.”
One netizen posed several questions to the Cuban leader about what he was witnessing. “Crushing denunciation? What were you watching? All he did was spout a bunch of nonsense and blame half the world for what’s happening in Venezuela. Really, aren’t you ashamed to lie like that? Don’t you have any decency left?”
The Cuban government is one of the few that recognizes Maduro's victory in the elections held on July 28, along with allied countries like China, Russia, Qatar, Iran, Nicaragua, Honduras, among a few others.
A few days ago, Díaz-Canel labeled Maduro's opponents in Venezuela as "temporary troublemakers" and enemies of "Our America."
Recently, the Cuban Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MINREX) denied reports linking personnel and document movements of the regime to Caracas.
Despite strong protests and fraud allegations from the opposition, on Friday, the National Electoral Council (CNE) of Venezuela ratified Nicolás Maduro's victory in the elections with 96.87% of the ballots counted.
The president of the CNE, Elvis Amoroso, an ally of the regime, reported that the turnout was 12,386,669 voters (59.97%), with a total of 12,335,884 valid votes.
Of those, Maduro received 6,408,844 votes for 51.95 percent, according to the entity. The CNE announced that Edmundo González obtained 5,326,104 votes, accounting for 43.18 percent.
This Saturday, the opposition, led by María Corina Machado, resumed protests in several cities across the country.
Controversy Surrounding Maduro's Electoral Victory
The endorsement of Nicolás Maduro by Miguel Díaz-Canel has generated significant controversy, raising many questions about the legitimacy of the recent elections in Venezuela. Here are some frequently asked questions and their answers:
Why did Miguel Díaz-Canel support Nicolás Maduro's electoral victory?
Miguel Díaz-Canel expressed his support as part of a long-standing alliance between the Cuban government and Nicolás Maduro's regime, which they view as a continuation of the Bolivarian Revolution.
What were some of the criticisms made by Cubans regarding Díaz-Canel's support?
Cubans criticized Díaz-Canel for supporting what many see as a fraudulent election, pointing out the severe economic and social issues in Cuba, such as food shortages, long blackouts, and widespread poverty.
Which countries recognize Nicolás Maduro's electoral victory?
Countries that recognize Maduro's victory include China, Russia, Qatar, Iran, Nicaragua, Honduras, and a few other allies of the chavista regime.