The United States government has labeled the recent United Nations (U.N.) report questioning the legitimacy of the electoral process in Venezuela as "crystal clear." Brian A. Nichols, the Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs at the Department of State, stated on X that "the U.N. report is crystal clear: Venezuelan electoral authorities failed to meet basic measures of transparency and integrity, did not follow national legal and regulatory provisions, and did not conduct post-election audits."
The preliminary U.N. report on the elections in Venezuela highlighted severe irregularities in the electoral process that concluded with the proclamation of Nicolás Maduro as president. Among the most notable criticisms, the document emphasizes that "announcing the result of an election without publishing its details or disclosing tabulated results to the candidates is unprecedented in contemporary democratic elections."
In response to these accusations, the Maduro regime reacted furiously, accusing the U.N. panel of spreading lies and violating the terms of reference agreed with the National Electoral Council. In an official statement, the Venezuelan government described the preliminary conclusions of the report as "a propaganda act serving the coup interests of the Venezuelan far-right."
However, the publication of the document marks a turning point in international perception of the Venezuelan regime, which now faces increased pressure to justify the legitimacy of its new mandate. The United Nations also demanded an end to the repression and thorough investigations following the elections. The U.N. Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on Venezuela, established by the U.N. Human Rights Council, called on the Venezuelan government to immediately stop the repression against those protesting on the streets against electoral fraud and to thoroughly investigate the ongoing human rights violations.
Since the elections, at least 23 deaths, most of them by gunshots, have been recorded in the context of the protests that have shaken the country.
Key Questions on Venezuelan Election Fraud
In light of the recent U.N. report and the subsequent international response, here are some key questions and answers to better understand the situation in Venezuela.
What did the U.N. report reveal about the Venezuelan elections?
The U.N. report revealed severe irregularities in the electoral process, including a lack of transparency and integrity, failure to follow legal and regulatory provisions, and the absence of post-election audits.
How did the Venezuelan government respond to the U.N. report?
The Venezuelan government responded furiously, accusing the U.N. panel of spreading lies and violating agreed terms of reference, and described the report's preliminary conclusions as propaganda.
What actions has the U.N. demanded from the Venezuelan government?
The U.N. has demanded that the Venezuelan government cease repression against protestors and thoroughly investigate human rights violations that have occurred in the wake of the elections.