MADRID, Spain.- With just over a month to go before the Venezuelan elections, Juan Carlos Delpino, one of the five main directors of the National Electoral Council (CNE), decided to denounce the irregularities and lack of transparency in the electoral process of July 28. Through a statement published in the social network X, The lawyer denounced the illegitimacy of the announced results and declared that he does not possess the necessary evidence to support said results.
Mantengo mi compromiso inquebrantable con el pueblo venezolano 🇻🇪. pic.twitter.com/IOsMaBRz4A
— Juan C Delpino (@delpinojuan) August 26, 2024
Delpino, with more than 20 years of experience in technical positions and as director of the CNE, stressed that the election day took place with relatively few incidents reported until 5:00 pm. According to his statement, at that time a participation of between 60 and 65% of the electoral register was projected, a figure that had been suggested by experts in the field. However, from that time on, situations began to arise that compromised the integrity of the electoral process.
One of the points highlighted by Delpino was the eviction of opposition witnesses during the closing of polling stations, an act that he described as a direct violation of the principles of equity and the rights of voters to have access to voting records.
The rector also revealed irregularities in the transmission of the election results. According to protocol, this transmission was to take place immediately after the polling stations closed, but was interrupted by what was justified as an alleged hack, followed by silence and an unexplained delay.
Another aspect raised by Delpino was the choice of the date for the elections. Since January 2024, several potential dates for the electoral call had been evaluated. However, the CNE decided to call the elections for July 28, a decision that, he explains, did not allow for an adequate schedule of activities and audits.
The electoral official also highlighted problems in updating the Electoral Registry, especially regarding the right to vote of Venezuelans abroad. Even though the Constitution and the Organic Law of Electoral Processes (LOPRE) clearly stipulate the requirements for voting, conditions and restrictions were imposed that significantly limited the registration and updating of data of citizens both inside and outside Venezuela.
In the last few hours Juan Carlos Delpino also decided to give an interview to The New York Times, where he was even more forceful in expressing his skepticism about the legitimacy of Nicolás Maduro’s victory. “I did not receive any evidence that Maduro had obtained the majority of the votes,” said the rector. In addition, he expressed his shame for not having achieved elections accepted by all, declaring that the electoral body “failed the country.” “I am ashamed and I apologize to the Venezuelan population because I did not achieve the entire plan that was woven to have elections accepted by all,” he said in this regard.
Since the July 28 vote, several governments around the world have denounced electoral fraud in Venezuela. However, Juan Carlos Delpino’s statements represent the first significant denunciation coming from within the Venezuelan electoral system.
