– The court continues the deliberations that began on 5 August, with the aim of being able to submit a final ruling. The court’s decisions will be final and binding, says Supreme Court President Caryslia Rodríguez.
She made the statement on Saturday.
– The members of the opposition coalition have not submitted any election materials to the court, she told journalists and diplomats.
In contrast, the Supreme Court has met President Nicolás Maduro and received the electoral commission’s vote tally, she stated.
Political observers believe that the Supreme Court is loyal to President Nicolás Maduro and his government.
The opposition is being investigated
On August 1, Maduro asked the court to certify him as the winner of the July 28 election, an election victory that the opposition strongly disputes.
On a website, the opposition has presented printouts from voting machines around the country which show that their candidate Edmundo Gonzalez won with a large majority. An independent review carried out by the news agency AP shows the same.
Venezuelan authorities earlier this week ordered the website shut down and have opened an investigation into Gonzalez, as well as opposition leader Maria Corina Machado.
Maduro himself appeared in the Supreme Court on Friday to present his arguments. Gonzalez has not been able to appear in court because he fears being arrested as a result of being under investigation.
Due to alleged hacking
Venezuela’s Electoral Commission (CNE) ratified Maduro’s victory on August 2. But the commission, which is considered by many to be loyal to Maduro, has not submitted election transcripts, which it should have done according to the law. The Commission’s argument is that the information has been hacked.
The argument about alleged hacking is, according to both the opposition and many observers, made up by the government to avoid having to publish the election documents.
After the election, 24 people have been killed in demonstrations, according to figures from human rights groups. Maduro himself has stated that 2,200 people have been arrested for demonstrating against the election results and he has said that they will be placed in high-security prisons.
Russia and China have congratulated Maduro on his victory.
A number of Latin American countries, as well as the United States and the European Union, have refused to recognize Maduro as the winner. On Thursday, Brazil, Colombia and Mexico, three countries politically closer to Maduro, issued a joint statement urging Venezuela’s electoral commission to publish the detailed tally of votes from the election. In the statement, the three countries further said that the Supreme Court has nothing to do with this case.
Maduro rejects offer of a way out
On Friday, Machado said she would give Maduro guarantees if he steps down and carries out a peaceful transition in the country. On the contrary, Maduro rejected the offer.
– The only person who should negotiate with Machado is the prosecution, Maduro told the press.
Machado “must answer for the crimes she committed by contesting the election results,” Maduro said.
Later that day, Maduro received an offer from Panama for safe exit via Panama to a third country. He also rejected this offer.
Panama, like several other countries, including Argentina, Chile, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Peru and Uruguay, cut diplomatic relations with Venezuela after the election.
Panama has called a regional summit to discuss Venezuela’s election results and seven presidents have confirmed their participation. The meeting will be held in the Dominican Republic on August 16, on the sidelines of the inauguration of the country’s president, Luis Abinader.
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2024-08-12 02:26:10
