- The organization issued its statement in view of the fact that the Electoral Power has not yet published the minutes of the presidential elections of July 28
The European Union “urges the National Electoral Council (CNE) of Venezuela to facilitate immediate access to the minutes of all polling stations,” said the EU High Representative for Foreign Policy, Josep Borrell, on Tuesday, July 30.
“Until the minutes are published and verified, the announced results cannot be recognised,” the head of European diplomacy warned in a statement.
Borrell said he is following the situation in Venezuela “with great concern” following the presidential elections last Sunday.
So far, the CNE has only presented the results corresponding to 80% of the votes counted, and without providing any source or system that allows for verification, according to the statement released by the high representative.
Partial results “not verifiable”
“With this partial, unverifiable result, the CNE has proceeded to declare Nicolás Maduro’s victory,” says Borrell, adding that “in a democracy, the results must be complete and able to be independently verified in order to be recognized.”
On the other hand, he continues, “the data that the opposition has made available to the public offer a result radically different from that announced by the CNE.”
“I reiterate that the Venezuelan authorities must guarantee the transparency and integrity of the process by independently verifying the minutes of the electoral tables,” insists the Spanish politician.
The head of European diplomacy said that “the people of Venezuela have suffered for many years an unprecedented economic, political and social crisis” and recalled that the EU “has always defended that the way out of this crisis is through elections and that continues to be the solution.”
In these difficult times, he added, “it is important to call for peaceful demonstrations and protests.”
“Security forces must ensure full respect for human rights, in particular the rights to protest and assembly,” the statement concludes.
UN warns of disproportionate use of force
The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, today denounced the “disproportionate use of force” by Venezuelan security agencies and individuals who support the government of Nicolás Maduro, following his new re-election in elections that are being contested inside and outside the country.
Türk’s office has received reports of excessive use of force against protesters and that so-called “collectives” – armed civilian groups close to the state apparatus – have been involved in these incidents.
Several protesters have been injured with firearms, with one death confirmed on 29 July, although there are further complaints pending verification,” it said in a statement circulated in Geneva.
After calling for the perpetrators of such acts to be punished, the High Commissioner urged the Venezuelan authorities to respect the rights of Venezuelans to assemble, to protest peacefully and to express their views freely and without fear.
In this regard, he requested that the electoral dispute be resolved peacefully, with transparency, and that the results of each polling station be published in a timely manner, for which “the electoral authorities must carry out their work independently and without interference.”
According to the non-governmental organization Foro Penal, reported that 11 people died on Monday, July 29, in clashes between Maduro supporters and opponents.
On behalf of the government, Attorney General Tarek William Saab has reported that 749 people have been arrested in the numerous protests recorded in 17 of the country’s 24 states.
With information from EFE
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2024-07-30 23:37:06
