The Carter Center, which participated as an observer in the Venezuelan presidential elections, stated on Tuesday that the process “did not conform” to the international parameters and standards of electoral integrity, and therefore “cannot be considered democratic.”
«The Carter Center cannot verify or corroborate the authenticity of the presidential election results declared by the National Electoral Council (CNE) of Venezuela.“the Carter Center said in a statement.
The organization highlighted that the electoral body, which has declared the official Nicolás Maduro the winner with more than two million votes still to be counted, has not announced the results broken down by table, which “constitutes a serious violation of electoral principles«.
He explained that the electoral process “has not met international standards of integrity at any of its relevant stages and has violated numerous provisions of its own national legislation«.
According to the Carter Center, “It took place in an environment of restricted freedoms to the detriment of political actors, civil society organizations and the media.» and during the process, the CNE authorities «They showed bias in favor of the ruling party and against the opposition candidates«.
He added that the update of the voter registry “It was carried out with numerous inconveniences«, as «Very short deadlines, relatively few registration places and a minimal public information and dissemination campaign«.
The problem -the note continues- «It worsened abroad, where citizens faced excessive legal barriers, even arbitrary ones, to register abroad«.
In addition, he said, the registration of parties and candidates “also did not meet international standards” and, in recent years, opposition parties “They have suffered judicial interventions to the detriment of their most socially and politically recognized leaders to benefit people close to the government, influencing the formation of their candidacies.«.
The organization also recalled, “even more importantly,” that the registration of the candidacy of the main opposition forces “was subject to the discretion of electoral authorities who made decisions without respecting basic legal principles«.
The Carter Center noted that the election campaign was conducted “with a notable imbalance in favor of the Government in all fields. The official candidate had very ample resources, which resulted in the great disproportion of rallies, murals, billboards and posters in its favor.«.
He also noted “the abuse of public resources,” including the use of vehicles, the mobilization of officials for the campaign and the use of social programs.
The official candidacy, he explained, “had predominance” on television and radio in advertising, broadcasting events and information, and the authorities “tried to restrict” opposition campaigns, “including the persecution and intimidation of people who provided services” to anti-Chavez politicians “to generate a deterrent effect.”
Despite everything, the note says, Venezuelan citizens mobilized massively and peacefully on July 28 to express their preferences and the voting day “took place in a civil manner, despite restrictions on access to premises for national observers” and “party witnesses.”
The organization also criticized the “pressure on the electorate” with “government-supporting checkpoints near the polling stations to verify voter turnout.”
Carter Center observers “verified the willingness of Venezuelan citizens to participate in a democratic electoral process and demonstrated their civic commitment as polling station members, party witnesses and observers.”
«These efforts were undermined by the CNE’s lack of transparency in disseminating the results.“, said the organization, which recalled that The mission was invited to observe the 2024 presidential election and signed a memorandum of understanding to ensure that the mission could observe freely according to its standards.“, he added.
The Carter Center deployed 17 experts and observers beginning June 29, with teams in Caracas, Barinas, Maracaibo and Valencia, where they met with “a wide range of actors, including the CNE, candidates, political parties and civil society organizations,” among others.
He concluded that a final report of his observation mission in Venezuela will be published, detailing all the findings outlined in the statement.
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2024-09-18 04:00:26
– What were the main findings of the Carter Center regarding the electoral integrity of Venezuela’s presidential elections?
Table of Contents
The Carter Center’s Damning Verdict on Venezuela’s Presidential Elections: A Lack of Electoral Integrity
In a scathing report, the Carter Center, a renowned international observer organization, has condemned Venezuela’s presidential elections, stating that the process “did not conform” to international standards of electoral integrity and therefore “cannot be considered democratic.” The Center’s statement comes after observing the elections, in which Nicolás Maduro was declared the winner with more than two million votes still to be counted.
Lack of Transparency and Electoral Principles
The Carter Center expressed its concerns over the electoral process, particularly the National Electoral Council’s (CNE) failure to announce results broken down by table, which the organization considers a “serious violation of electoral principles.” The CNE’s lack of transparency in disseminating results has raised suspicions over the authenticity of the declared outcome.
Restricted Freedoms and Biased Electoral Authorities
The Center highlighted that the electoral process took place in an environment of restricted freedoms, which disproportionately affected political actors, civil society organizations, and the media. Moreover, the CNE authorities showed bias in favor of the ruling party and against opposition candidates, further undermining the credibility of the elections.
Inconvenient Voter Registry Update and Excessive Barriers
The voter registry update was marred by numerous issues, including short deadlines, limited registration places, and minimal public information campaigns. The problem was exacerbated abroad, where citizens faced excessive legal barriers, including arbitrary ones, to register and exercise their right to vote.
Opposition Parties and Candidates Faced Judicial Interventions
The Carter Center noted that opposition parties suffered judicial interventions in recent years, which benefited government-backed candidates and influenced the formation of their candidacies. The registration of parties and candidates did not meet international standards, further tilting the playing field in favor of the ruling party.
Imbalanced Election Campaign and Abuse of Public Resources
The election campaign was characterized by a notable imbalance in favor of the government, with the official candidate enjoying ample resources, resulting in a disproportionate presence of rallies, murals, billboards, and posters. The government also abused public resources, including the use of vehicles, mobilization of officials, and social programs, to sway public opinion.
Restrictions on Opposition Campaigns and Voter Intimidation
The authorities attempted to restrict opposition campaigns, including persecuting and intimidating individuals who provided services to anti-government politicians. This created a deterrent effect, further limiting the opposition’s ability to campaign freely.
Peaceful Voter Turnout and Civil Conduct
Despite the numerous irregularities, Venezuelan citizens mobilized massively and peacefully on election day, demonstrating their commitment to democratic values. The voting day itself was conducted in a civil manner, despite restrictions on access to polling stations for national observers and party witnesses.
The Carter Center’s Critique and Call to Action
The Carter Center’s damning report is a stark reminder of the need for Venezuela to respect international standards of electoral integrity. The organization’s findings are a call to action for the Venezuelan government to address the egregious violations of democratic principles that marred the presidential elections. Only by ensuring free, fair, and transparent elections can Venezuela restore trust in its electoral process and respect the will of its people.
Keywords: Venezuela, presidential elections, Carter Center, electoral integrity, democratic standards, Nicolás Maduro, National Electoral Council, voter registry, opposition parties, freedom of expression, elections observer.
Meta Description: The Carter Center’s scathing report on Venezuela’s presidential elections highlights the lack of electoral integrity, restricted freedoms, and biased electoral authorities, raising concerns over the country’s democratic credentials.
Header Tags:
H1: The Carter Center’s Damning Verdict on Venezuela’s Presidential Elections: A Lack of Electoral Integrity
H2: Lack of Transparency and Electoral Principles
H2: Restricted Freedoms and Biased Electoral Authorities
H2: Inconvenient Voter Registry Update and Excessive Barriers
H2: Opposition Parties and Candidates Faced Judicial Interventions
H2: Imbalanced Election Campaign and Abuse of Public Resources
H2: Restrictions on Opposition Campaigns and Voter Intimidation
H2: Peaceful Voter Turnout and Civil Conduct
* H2: The Carter Center’s Critique and Call to Action
– What were the key findings of the Carter Center regarding the Venezuelan elections?
Carter Center Condemns Venezuelan Elections, Citing Lack of Electoral Integrity
The Carter Center, a renowned organization that observes and promotes democratic elections worldwide, has issued a scathing report on the recent Venezuelan presidential elections. According to the Center, the electoral process “did not conform” to international parameters and standards of electoral integrity, and therefore “cannot be considered democratic.”
The Center’s statement, released on Tuesday, highlighted several key issues that undermine the credibility of the election results declared by the National Electoral Council (CNE) of Venezuela. The organization emphasized that the electoral body has not announced the results broken down by table, which “constitutes a serious violation of electoral principles.”
Electoral Process Fell Short of International Standards
The Carter Center’s observers found that the electoral process did not meet international standards of integrity at any of its relevant stages. The organization cited numerous violations of Venezuela’s national legislation and highlighted the restricted freedoms of political actors, civil society organizations, and the media during the election process.
The update of the voter registry was also criticized for being carried out with numerous inconveniences, including very short deadlines, relatively few registration places, and a minimal public information and dissemination campaign. The problems were exacerbated abroad, where citizens faced excessive legal barriers, including arbitrary ones, to register.
Bias and Restrictions Marred the Election Campaign
The Carter Center noted that the registration of parties and candidates did not meet international standards, and opposition parties have suffered judicial interventions to the detriment of their most socially and politically recognized leaders. The election campaign was conducted with a notable imbalance in favor of the Government, with the official candidate having ample resources, which resulted in a great disproportion of rallies, murals, billboards, and posters.
The organization also criticized the abuse of public resources, including the use of vehicles, the mobilization of officials for the campaign, and the use of social programs. The authorities attempted to restrict opposition campaigns, including the persecution and intimidation of people who provided services to anti-Chavez politicians.
Venezuelan Citizens Show Commitment to Democracy
Despite the numerous irregularities, the Carter Center observers noted that Venezuelan citizens mobilized massively and peacefully on July 28 to express their preferences. The voting day took place in a civil manner, despite restrictions on access to premises for national observers and party witnesses.
Pressure on the Electorate and Lack of Transparency
The organization criticized the pressure on the electorate, with government-supporting checkpoints near the polling stations to verify voter turnout. Furthermore, the Carter Center observers verified the willingness of Venezuelan citizens to participate in a democratic electoral process, but their efforts were undermined by the CNE’s lack of transparency in disseminating the results.
Final Report to Be Published
The Carter Center deployed 17 experts and observers beginning June 29, with teams in Caracas, Barinas, Maracaibo, and Valencia. The organization will publish a final report of its observation mission in Venezuela, detailing all the findings outlined in the statement.
The Carter Center’s condemnation of the Venezuelan elections is a significant blow to the legitimacy of the electoral process in the country. The organization’s report highlights the need for Venezuela to reform its electoral system to ensure free, fair, and transparent elections that reflect the will of its citizens.
Keywords: Venezuela, Elections, Carter Center, Electoral Integrity, Democracy, Nicolás Maduro
Meta Description: The Carter Center has condemned the recent Venezuelan presidential elections, citing a lack of electoral integrity and numerous violations of international standards. Read more about the organization’s findings and concerns.
Optimized Title: Carter Center Condemns Venezuelan Elections, Citing Lack of Electoral Integrity
