The governments of Colombia, Mexico, and Brazil emphasized the necessity for the National Electoral Council (CNE) of Venezuela to release detailed voting results from the July 28 elections, urging respect for human rights. After a virtual meeting on Wednesday, the foreign ministers of these nations issued a second statement addressing the political crisis in Venezuela, triggered by the presidential election where the official CNE declared Nicolás Maduro as the winner, while opposition records suggested that the opposition coalition, represented by Edmundo González, had actually won.
In their declaration, the governments stressed the need for the CNE to publish detailed results by polling station and to ensure transparency in the electoral process. Despite ongoing legal proceedings at the Supreme Court of Justice regarding the elections, they asserted that the CNE is legally responsible for this task.
The ministers also highlighted the importance of allowing an impartial verification of the results, thereby respecting the people's sovereignty and the integrity of the electoral process. They called on Venezuelan political and social actors to exercise restraint in their public manifestations and events.
Additionally, they urged the country's security forces to ensure the full exercise of democratic voting rights within the confines of the law and reiterated that human rights must be upheld under any circumstances.
The United States government has shown support for the mediation efforts proposed by Colombia, Brazil, and Mexico, under the leadership of Gustavo Petro, Luiz Inácio Lula Da Silva, and Andrés Manuel López Obrador, the latter two being long-time allies of the Chavismo regime. Mark Wells, the U.S. State Department official for Latin America, stated that Washington backs the dialogue promoted by these three countries and maintains close coordination with them.
Wells emphasized that, after reviewing the evidence, it has been determined that it would be nearly impossible to falsify the vote counts published by the opposition. He also noted that the opposition and civil society have released more than 80% of the voting records, indicating that Edmundo González Urrutia, the opposition leader, had secured the majority by over 30 percentage points.
Key Questions About Venezuela's Election Controversy
In light of the ongoing political crisis and the demands for detailed election results in Venezuela, here are some frequently asked questions and their answers.
Why are Colombia, Mexico, and Brazil demanding detailed voting results?
These countries are calling for transparency and the verification of election results to ensure the integrity of the electoral process and the respect of human rights in Venezuela.
What was the outcome of the controversial election?
The official CNE declared Nicolás Maduro as the winner, but opposition records indicate that Edmundo González, representing the opposition coalition, actually won.
What role is the United States playing in this situation?
The U.S. supports the mediation efforts by Colombia, Brazil, and Mexico and maintains close coordination with these nations to promote dialogue and transparency.
What evidence supports the opposition's claim of victory?
The opposition and civil society have published over 80% of the voting records, indicating that Edmundo González Urrutia had a substantial lead over Nicolás Maduro.