AFPVenezuelan President Maduro thanks his supporters in the capital Caracas
NOS Nieuws•gisteren, 13:01
Many Latin American countries are critical of the outcome of the presidential elections in Venezuela. Incumbent President Maduro has claimed victory, hours after the polls closed. This would mean he will begin his third term as president. But the opposition says that rival candidate González won by a landslide and that there was fraud.
“Not like this! It was an open secret that they would ‘win’ regardless of the actual result,” Uruguayan President Lacalle Pou said of Maduro’s socialist party, Partido Socialista Unido de Venezuela (PSUV). “The whole electoral process was clearly flawed.”
Peru has recalled its ambassador from Venezuela for consultations. “I condemn in the strongest terms this accumulation of irregularities,” says Foreign Minister González-Olaechea. Costa Rica also rejects the election results, as does Chilean President Boric. “The Maduro regime must realize that the results it has published are hard to believe.”
‘Not recognizing new fraud’
Argentine President Milei said before the results were announced that he disagreed with the course of events. “Argentina will not recognize this new fraud,” he said, referring to the 2018 elections, where irregularities were also discussed. “We hope that this time the armed forces will defend democracy and the will of the people.”
“We believe it is essential that every voice is heard,” said Colombian Foreign Minister Murillo. He wants all doubts about the results to be removed and therefore calls for an independent investigation into the vote. Guatemalan President Arevalo believes that Venezuela deserves transparent and accurate results that reflect the will of the people. “We have many doubts about the results announced by the electoral commission.”
Opposition supporters demonstrated against President Maduro last night:
Fraud! Maduro Opponents Protest in Venezuela
The countries are supported by the EU and the United States. US Secretary of State Blinken has expressed his “serious concerns” about the situation. He calls on the electoral commission to make public the detailed results per polling station. EU foreign policy chief Borrell agrees with him and demands full transparency about the election process.
The US and Venezuela have had a difficult relationship for years, which started during the time of former president Chávez. The anti-capitalist regularly spoke out against the US in fierce and rather undiplomatic terms. He once labeled former president Bush as the devil. He also called him a donkey. After his death from cancer in 2013, he was succeeded by Maduro.
Russia and China satisfied
Besides criticism, Maduro is also receiving expressions of support from some of his allies. Russian President Putin welcomed his victory and praised the strategic alliance between the two countries. He said that Maduro would always be welcome in Russia. The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs also sent congratulations.
Former Cuban President Raul Castro called Maduro this morning to congratulate him, and the communist country’s current leader, Díaz-Canel, also expressed his joy at the victory. “The people have spoken and the revolution has triumphed.”
Bolivian President Arce said he had been following the “democratic festival” closely. “We are happy that the will of the people is being respected. We want to reiterate that we are ready to continue strengthening our ties with Venezuela.” Honduran President Castro sent “special democratic, socialist and revolutionary greetings” to Maduro. “This undeniable triumph confirms the sovereignty and historical legacy of Commander Hugo Chávez.”
Cake for Chavez
Venezuelan opposition leader Machaco has called on the military to follow the will of the people, which she says means recognizing that the opposition won the election. The military has always stood by the 61-year-old president and there is no indication that this will change.
Maduro says the elections were transparent. He will sign a decree today to start a “great national dialogue”. What that entails is not clear. Maduro announced this when he celebrated the victory with his supporters. Shortly before that, he cut a birthday cake in memory of his mentor Chávez, who would have turned 70 yesterday.
The country’s years of economic and humanitarian crises, the collapse of the oil industry, empty shelves in stores and severe shortages of medicines in hospitals have led to Venezuelans’ calls for change. More than seven million Venezuelans have fled their country in recent years.
In April, correspondent Nina Jurna visited Venezuela and saw that the country is changing quite a bit:
Correspondent Nina Jurna takes you back to Venezuela, where the economy is growing again
