From the Vatican, Pope Francis called for “seeking the truth in Venezuela, where since July 29 there have been demonstrations against the questioned re-election of Maduro. According to human rights organizations, so far there have been At least 11 civilians killed and more than two thousand arrestedFor its part, Maduro’s government acknowledges the death of two soldiers during violent incidents.
“In the absence of evidence to support them,” the bulletins of Venezuelan electoral authorities “cannot recognize themselves”the Council of the European Union said in a statement, calling for an “independent verification” of the process.
Unlike the United States and other countries, The EU abstained from recognizing a victory for opposition candidate Edmundo González Urrutianominated after a political disqualification that vetoed former congresswoman María Corina Machado.
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However, the European bloc stressed that “copies of the electoral records published by the opposition and reviewed by several independent organizations” indicate that Gonzalez “seems to have won the presidential election” by a substantial majority.”
The National Electoral Council (CNE) of Venezuela ratified Maduro as President re-elected with 52% of the votes compared to 43% of the opposition. Maduro would thus assume a third term in office, which would project him to remain in power for 18 years.
The opposition uploaded minutes to a web portal in which it claims that Gonzalez had 67% of the votes.
“We are not going to leave the streets”declared a defiant Machado on Saturday, August 3, who reappeared in an opposition march after declaring herself in hiding on Thursday, August 1, following Maduro’s statements that she and González Urrutia should be “behind bars”.
Read also: US recognizes Edmundo González as winner of Venezuelan elections
He CNE has not yet published detailed results and claims that its system was the target of a “massive hack.” Maduro and senior officials dismiss the validity of the documents released by the opposition.
Avoid violence
“I make a heartfelt appeal to all parties to seek the truth, act with restraint, Avoid any type of violence, resolve disputes through dialogue and have at heart the true good of the population,” said Pope Francis after the Sunday Angelus prayer in St. Peter’s Square, in the Vatican.
Machado thanked this Sunday Germany, Spain, France, Italy, Netherlands, Poland and Portugal their “commitment to democracy” following a request from these seven nations to publish the minutes of the presidential election.
They made this request on Saturday, August 3, in a joint statement, considering that it is necessary to guarantee “total transparency”.
Joint statement by Spain, France, Italy, Germany, the Netherlands, Poland and Portugal on Venezuela following the presidential elections last Sunday.https://t.co/JzpPmzTggk
— La Moncloa (@desdelamoncloa) August 3, 2024
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“We support the demand that the reports we have submitted be verified as soon as possible, internationally and independently,” Machado posted on the social network. X (before Twitter).
United States, Peru, Argentina, Uruguay, Ecuador, Costa Rica and Panama recognized González Urrutia as the winner and Canada announced the publication of the full results. Meanwhile, the nations that support Nicolás Maduro are Russia and China.
Brazil, Colombia and Mexico are trying to push for a political agreement.
“Exemplary conduct”
Maduro rejects all external interference, and surrounded by the high command of the Armed Forces, who have declared “absolute loyalty” to him, Maduro congratulated the “exemplary conduct” of the National Guardthe military body in charge of public order in Venezuela.
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“You have been and are backbone of peace, protection of the people, tranquility, security“We are facing a coup d’état in the streets of Venezuela,” the president said at an event for the 87th anniversary of that body, where he gave promotions and decorations.
On Saturday, August 3, in front of a demonstration of supporters that reached the presidential palace of Miraflores, Maduro had denounced that a coup was underway plan to “usurp” power.
“We will not accept, under national laws, that the presidency be usurped again,” warned Maduro, drawing a parallel with the international recognition received in 2019 by the opposition Juan Guaidócurrently exiled in the United States after a failed offensive to oust the socialist ruler, called González Urrutia “Guaidó 2.0.”
Guaidó, then head of Parliament, was recognized as “Acting President” by Washington and fifty governments that considered Maduro’s re-election in 2018 to be fraudulent, in elections boycotted by the opposition.
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