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On Monday, the government of Brazil called for an “impartial verification of the results” of the presidential elections held in Venezuela on Sunday.
A statement from the Foreign Ministry indicated that Brazil is “closely monitoring the vote counting process” and expressed approval of “the peaceful nature of yesterday’s election in Venezuela.”
This statement followed remarks by Lula’s envoy, Celso Amorim, who noted that he was awaiting the “necessary data.”
Elisa Trotta, a Venezuelan human rights lawyer living in Argentina and a diplomatic representative of Juan Guaidó, reported that 94% of those who voted in Argentina supported the opposition candidate Edmundo González.
Celso Amorim, the special adviser to Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva who is monitoring the Venezuelan elections, stated on Monday that the government is waiting for the “necessary data” to respond to the results declared by the National Electoral Council (CNE), which announced Nicolás Maduro as the victor. Amorim also expressed frustration at the lack of transparency.
“The most frustrating issue is transparency […] The government is continuing to monitor until it receives the necessary data to take action, as it does in every election. There needs to be transparency; I don’t necessarily doubt what is being reported, but the government was expected to provide the documentation that supports these numbers, and that has not occurred yet,” he mentioned.
“I am not one to blindly accept everything that is reported, but I am not going to claim that it was fraud either. It is a complicated situation, and we desire a democratic regime for Venezuela in a peaceful manner,” Amorim continued.
Celso AmorimAP
Amorim is expected to remain in Venezuela until Tuesday for discussions regarding the election. He spoke with President Lula on Sunday night and Monday morning. Currently, there are no plans for a conversation between Lula and Maduro.
Ecuador’s President, Daniel Noboa, proposed a meeting of the Permanent Council of the Organization of American States (OAS) on Monday to address the “delicate situation” in Venezuela after Nicolás Maduro was declared the winner of the elections.
“I have instructed our chancellor [Gabriela Sommerfeld] to take the necessary measures to summon the Permanent Council of the OAS to discuss the sensitive situation in Venezuela,” Noboa announced on the social media platform X.
Russian President Vladimir Putin congratulated Nicolás Maduro on Monday for winning the disputed Venezuelan elections, and the Kremlin announced that it would deepen cooperation with Caracas in all areas “including sensitive ones.”
Putin expressed his support for Maduro, an ally who has accused the U.S. and the West of exacerbating the war in Ukraine, stating that Moscow has a strategic partnership with the South American nation and that Maduro is always welcome in Russia.
“Russian-Venezuelan relations have the character of a strategic partnership,” Putin stated in a message to Maduro, according to the Kremlin. “I am confident that your leadership will continue to contribute to the nation’s progressive development in all areas.”
“This aligns with the interests of our friendly nations and is in accordance with building a more just and democratic world order,” Putin added.
“I would like to reaffirm our commitment to continue our constructive collaboration on current issues of the
Venezuelan bonds and those of the state oil company PDVSA were trading lower by 1.5 to 5 cents on Monday, following claims of victory from both President Nicolás Maduro and his opposition challenger Edmundo González in the presidential election.
While U.S. markets, where most bonds are traded, had not yet formally opened, Friday’s closing prices indicated that sovereign bonds, which have been in default for years, ranged from 18 to 22 cents on the dollar, and most PDVSA debt was priced between 12-17 cents on the dollar.
Approximately six hours after the polls closed, the CNE announced early today (after 1 a.m. in Argentina) that Maduro received 51.20% of the votes, marking his most significant electoral challenge since assuming power 11 years ago, with Edmundo González as his opponent representing the united opposition.
According to CNE president Elvis Amoroso, González acquired 44.2% of the votes with a turnout of 59%. Amoroso reported that these figures correspond to 80% of the votes counted. However, the CNE’s official website has experienced downtime since then.
The website of the National Electoral Council of Venezuela has been down since the announcement of the results
EU foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell urged the government to respect the voters’ will and publish the electoral registers in a statement shared in both English and Spanish on social media X.
“The people of Venezuela voted peacefully and in large numbers regarding the future of their nation,” he wrote. “Their will must be honored. It is crucial to ensure complete transparency in the electoral process, including accurate vote counting and access to voting records at polling stations.”
Peru announced plans to summon its embassy for consultations in Caracas following the CNE’s declaration of Nicolás Maduro as the winner of the presidential election.
“In light of the very serious official announcements from the Venezuelan electoral authorities, the Peruvian ambassador accredited to the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela was immediately called for consultations,” Peruvian Foreign Minister Javier González-Olaechea communicated via social media X.
Britain expressed its concern on Monday regarding allegations of “serious irregularities” in Venezuela’s presidential election, where Nicolás Maduro was re-elected amidst claims of fraud from the opposition.
“We demand the prompt and transparent publication of complete and detailed results to ensure that the outcomes accurately reflect the will of the Venezuelan people,” the Foreign Ministry stated through social media.
“We want to announce that Venezuela has a new president-elect, Edmundo González Urrutia. We won, and everyone knows it,” said opposition leader Maria Corina Machado during the early hours in a message from his campaign headquarters alongside the candidate.
“Three quick counts confirmed the same results as the exit polls. We have over 40% of the tallies, and we possess 100% of the tallies transmitted by the CNE. I am uncertain where the others originated. All the information coincides that Edmundo secured 70% of the votes while Maduro garnered 30%,” stated Machado.
Machado, last night, with Edmundo GonzálezFEDERICO PARRA – AFP
“When I state that everyone knows what transpired, I also refer to the regime. The entire international community is aware of this. They know what occurred in Venezuela and how the people voted for change,” she added.
“We will not accept this manipulation that equates defending the truth with violence. Absolutely not, violence lies in distorting the truth. Violence is what they are attempting to impose. We will defend the truth,” declared Machado, who reiterated her call for prosecutors to preserve the records at the polling locations.
“Our struggle continues, and we will not cease until the will of the Venezuelan people is honored,” González stated.
THE NATIONConocé The Trust Project
The Controversial Presidential Elections in Venezuela: A Call for Transparency
Brazil’s Government Demands Impartial Verification
The government of Brazil on Monday called for an “impartial verification of the results” of Sunday’s presidential elections in Venezuela. Brazil’s Foreign Ministry released a statement emphasizing their close monitoring of the vote counting process and praising the peaceful nature of the elections held in Venezuela. These sentiments reflect Brazil’s cautious approach in navigating the complex political landscape of its neighboring country.
Elections Context and Brazil’s Involvement
Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva dispatched Celso Amorim, a special advisor, as an envoy to observe the elections. Amorim expressed that they are waiting for the “necessary data” to make informed comments regarding the results declared by Venezuela’s National Electoral Council (CNE), which announced Nicolás Maduro’s victory. Highlighting concerns over transparency, Amorim elaborated that “The government was supposed to provide the records from which this number results, but that has not happened yet.”
Opposition’s Claims of Victory and Allegations of Fraud
Even as Maduro was declared the winner, the opposition candidate Edmundo González claimed that “We won and everyone knows it.” According to opposition leader Maria Corina Machado, exit polls indicated that González received around 70% of the votes, while official CNE data suggested that he obtained only 44.2%. With 94% of voters in Argentina reportedly supporting the opposition, the credibility of the election results is in question.
Election Results Snapshot
| Candidate | Vote Percentage (%) |
|---|---|
| Nicolás Maduro | 51.20% |
| Edmundo González | 44.2% |
International Reactions and Concerns
International leaders responded with concern regarding the election’s integrity. Ecuador’s President Daniel Noboa proposed a meeting of the Permanent Council of the Organization of American States (OAS) to discuss the “delicate situation” following the elections. The EU foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell, urged the Venezuelan government to respect the voters’ will and publish the electoral registers to ensure transparency in the electoral process.
Statements from Allied Nations
Russian President Vladimir Putin congratulated Maduro, emphasizing the strategic partnership between Russia and Venezuela. Putin’s message asserted that Venezuela enjoys a vital role for growing collaborations between the two nations, further complicating the geopolitical dynamics surrounding the situation.
Market Responses to Election Results
The announcement of the disputed election results affected market activities, with bonds issued by Venezuela and its state oil company PDVSA trading lower. On Monday, these bonds were trading between 1.5 and 5 cents on the dollar, reflecting skepticism in Venezuelan markets following the election turmoil.
Opposition Reactions and Future Steps
As the dust settles, Maria Corina Machado and Edmundo González continue to assert their claims of victory, vowing to defend the people’s truth and integrity. Amidst calls for the preservation of voting records, González mentioned, “Our fight continues and we will not rest until the will of the Venezuelan people is respected.”
Implications for Venezuela’s Political Future
The political landscape in Venezuela remains uncertain, with various factions calling for transparency and justice in the electoral process. The call from Brazil and other international allies for verification emphasizes a widespread desire for a more democratic regime in Venezuela. As the situation unfolds, the future of governance, stability, and international relations in this oil-rich South American country hangs in the balance.
Key Takeaways
- Brazil demands an impartial review of election results amid allegations of fraudulent practices.
- International leaders express concern for the credibility of the electoral process.
- Market reactions indicate skepticism regarding Venezuela’s economic stability following the elections.
- The opposition remains firm in their claims of victory while calling for thorough investigations.
Conclusion
While the recent presidential elections in Venezuela have ended, the debates surrounding their legitimacy continue. Global attention remains fixated on the region as Brazil and other countries push for transparency and democratic integrity. The coming days and weeks are critical in determining Venezuela’s path towards stability and fairness in governance.
