The main international reactions to the announcement of Nicolás Maduro’s reelection were doubt and accusations of fraud
Text: RFI / AFP
The United States, through its top diplomat, Antony Blinken, expressed its “serious concern.” “Now that voting is over, it is vitally important that every vote is counted fairly and transparently. We call on the electoral authorities to publish the detailed vote count (records) to ensure transparency and accountability,” he said.
For his part, the head of European Union diplomacy, Josep Borrell, asked Venezuela on Monday to guarantee “total transparency in the electoral process, including detailed counting of votes and access to voting records at polling stations.”
The people of Venezuela voted peacefully and en masse on the future of their country.
Their will must be respected.
It is vital to ensure full transparency in the electoral process, including detailed counting of votes and access to voting records at polling stations.— Josep Borrell Fontelles (@JosepBorrellF) July 29, 2024
In the same vein, the Spanish Minister of Foreign Affairs, José Manuel Albares, asked for a guarantee of “total transparency” in the counting of votes, the “publication of the minutes table by table” and that “calm and civility be maintained.”
“I have many doubts about the regular conduct of the elections in Venezuela,” wrote Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani on the X network, demanding “results that can be verified.”
As for the regional reaction, Colombian Foreign Minister Luis Gilberto Murillo called on Monday for a “total recount of the votes, their verification and independent audit” to “clear up any doubts about the results.”
Chilean President Gabriel Boric said the announced results were “hard to believe” and demanded “total transparency in the minutes and the process, and that international observers not beholden to the government should account for the veracity of the results.”
*Read also: Doubts are raised about the electoral results announced by the CNE using mathematics
“Chile will not recognize any result that is not verifiable,” he added.
The Maduro regime must understand that the results it publishes are difficult to believe. The international community and above all the Venezuelan people, including the millions of Venezuelans in exile, demand total transparency of the minutes and the process, and that observers…
— Gabriel Boric Font (@GabrielBoric) July 29, 2024
More vehemently, Argentine President Javier Milei wrote on his X account: “DICTATOR MADURO, OUT!!!.” “The data announce a crushing victory for the opposition and the world is waiting for him to recognize defeat after years of socialism, misery, decadence and death,” he added. “Argentina will not recognize another fraud and expects the Armed Forces to defend democracy and the popular will this time.”
DICTATOR MADURO, OUT!!!
Venezuelans have chosen to end the communist dictatorship of Nicolás Maduro. The data announce a crushing victory for the opposition and the world is waiting for him to recognize defeat after years of socialism, misery, decadence and death.
— Javier Milei (@JMilei) July 29, 2024
Peruvian Foreign Minister Javier González-Olaechea announced in X that he will call the Peruvian ambassador to Venezuela for consultation “in light of the very serious official announcements by the Venezuelan electoral authorities.”
From Costa Rica, President Rodrigo Chaves, categorically repudiated “the proclamation of Nicolás Maduro as president of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, which we consider fraudulent,” in a message broadcast on X.
For the Uruguayan president, Luis Lacalle Pou, “you cannot recognize a victory if you do not trust the way and the mechanisms used to achieve it.”
“It was an open secret. They were going to ‘win’ regardless of the actual results. The process up to the day of the election and the counting of votes was clearly flawed,” he added on his X account.
Not like that! It was an open secret. They were going to “win” regardless of the actual results.
The process leading up to the day of the election and the counting of votes was clearly flawed. You cannot recognize a victory if you do not trust the way and the mechanisms used to achieve it.— Luis Lacalle Pou (@LuisLacallePou) July 29, 2024
“Venezuela deserves transparent, accurate results that are in line with the will of its people,” wrote the president of Guatemala, social democrat Bernardo Arévalo, in X, who also said he had received “the results with many doubts.”
Celebration of Maduro’s allies
The main support for Maduro came from China, which congratulated him and said it was “ready to enrich the strategic partnership” with the Latin American country, as well as from Russia. Putin congratulated Maduro on his re-election as president of Venezuela, the Kremlin announced.
The Cuban regime also expressed its clear support for Maduro. “Today the dignity and courage of the Venezuelan people triumphed over pressure and manipulation,” said Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel at X.
To Maduro, “our Tribute and Greeting, in Honor, Glory and for More Victories,” said Nicaraguan leader Daniel Ortega, sending him “our embrace as always.”
Bolivian President Luis Arce welcomed the fact that “the will of the Venezuelan people has been respected at the polls,” while reaffirming his “will to continue strengthening our ties of friendship.”
We congratulate the Venezuelan people and the president @NicolasMaduro for the electoral victory of this historic July 28th. A great way to remember Commander Hugo Chavez. We have followed this democratic celebration closely and we salute the fact that the will of the people has been respected… pic.twitter.com/pQHx1Xvx7n
— Luis Alberto Arce Catacora (Lucho Arce) (@LuchoXBolivia) July 29, 2024
Finally, Honduran President Xiomara Castro congratulated Maduro for “his unquestionable victory, which reaffirms his sovereignty and the historical legacy of Commander @chavezcandanga,” the late Hugo Chávez, who anointed him as his successor.
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