MIAMI, United States. – The Department for Electoral Cooperation and Observation (DECO) of the Secretariat for the Strengthening of Democracy (SFD) of the Organization of American States (OAS) concluded this Tuesday that “the results announced by the National Electoral Council (CNE) of Venezuela cannot be recognized” Nicolas Maduro is proclaimed the winner in the elections held last Sunday.
In a compelling reportthe OAS recalls that more than six hours after the closing of the voting, last Sunday, July 28, the CNE announced that it had processed 80% of the voting tables and declared the official candidate the winner, Nicolas Madurowithout providing specific details of the tables processed or publishing the minutes.
The multinational organization also states that the figures published by the CNE presented “arithmetic errors” and that these irregularities were part of “a coordinated strategy to undermine the integrity of the electoral process.”
The report details various violations of the electoral process, including “the opacity of the CNE and its resistance to national and international observation, the extreme inequality in the contest, intimidation and political persecution, the suppression of candidates, and attacks on the press and the right to information.”
This, together with the delay in opening polling stations and in the disclosure of results, as well as the suspension of the transmission of results, are indicative of a deeply flawed process, the multinational organization said.
The OAS also documented a series of acts of persecution and repression directed against the opposition. “As of July 25, 2024, the non-governmental organization Foro Penal recorded 135 arbitrary arrests for political reasons.” In addition, an attack was reported against Maria Corina Machadoopposition leader, whose brake hoses were cut from his vehicles.
The report mentions that Maduro, during the last week of the campaign, accused the international media of being “hitmen of lies” and He threatened a “bloodbath” if he did not win re-election. These speeches, according to the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR), “intimidate and restrict the political freedom of the electorate.”
Furthermore, the report stresses that “transparency and openness to national and international observation are fundamental pillars of any democratic electoral process.” However, the CNE significantly limited the participation of international and national observers. “On May 28, the CNE revoked the invitation to the observation mission of the European Union“, justifying the decision by the economic sanctions of the bloc. In addition, the CNE did not accredit the Venezuelan Electoral Observatory (OEV).
The report also harshly criticizes the management of the electoral registry and voting abroad. Despite the fact that more than five million Venezuelans reside outside the country, only 69,211 were eligible to vote. “This last figure reflects the CNE’s total lack of interest in making effective the fundamental right to vote that the regulations grant to the Venezuelan diaspora.”
The OAS concludes that the elections in Venezuela do not meet international standards of transparency and fairness, and that “the sum of various elements makes it impossible to grant democratic recognition to the official figures.”
The report concludes with a series of recommendations for the international community and democratic actors in Venezuela. “It is imperative that the international community remains vigilant and continues to exert pressure to ensure that the democratic rights of the Venezuelan people are respected.” In addition, the OAS calls on all parties involved to “engage in constructive dialogue and seek peaceful and democratic solutions to the political crisis in Venezuela.”
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