Greece (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – The European Union is closely monitoring developments in Latin America as a unique opportunity to support an election outcome that aligns with its foreign policy interests. In May, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro decided not to allow European Union election observers, which raised concerns within the international community about the transparency and integrity of the elections.
“The people of Venezuela voted on the future of their country peacefully and in large numbers. Their will must be respected. Ensuring full transparency in the electoral process, including detailed counting of votes and access to voting records at polling stations, is vital.”, stated European Union Foreign Policy Chief Josep Borrell.
Venezuela’s National Electoral Council (CNE) announced that Maduro, the successor to former President Hugo Chavez (1999-2013), secured a third consecutive term with 51.2% of the votes, defeating opposition candidate Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia, who received 44.2%. However, the opposition disputes these results, asserting that they won with 70% of the votes.
US backs the Opposition
Maduro asserted that Venezuela’s electoral process had been the target of an unsuccessful “massive hack” by a foreign entity, which he declined to name. He called for respect for “the sovereign life of Venezuela” and insisted that “the popular will” should be honored.
Venezuela’s opposition claimed it had evidence from vote tallies that showed they had won the election that President Nicolas Maduro claimed victory in. This led to anti-government protests breaking out across the country, with police using tear gas to disperse demonstrators in the capital, Caracas.
Protesters took to the streets after Maduro was announced as the winner of the controversial election, including areas near the Miraflores presidential palace in Caracas. Many engaged in “cacerolazo” demonstrations, a traditional Latin American form of protest where people bang pots and pans. Some of those who later marched carried their pots and pans with them.
On Monday, the Biden administration stated that electoral manipulation had undermined the credibility of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro’s claim to reelection. Washington indicated that it might impose new sanctions on the OPEC nation. Senior U.S. officials, speaking to reporters about Sunday’s election, intensified Washington’s response to the contested vote. In this election, Venezuela’s electoral authority declared that Maduro had won a third term, prolonging 25 years of socialist party rule.
A united Latin America Front
Maduro was campaigning for re-election and the continuation of the political project initiated by the late President Hugo Chavez 25 years ago. Meanwhile, the opposition, energized and posing the most significant challenge to Maduro’s power in years, promised to restore Venezuela’s democracy and rebuild the economy—which has been affected by Western sanctions—if they won.
However, the other countries in Latin America view Maduro as a dictator who causes destabilization in the region and could inspire similar political movements in their countries at any time. These countries have faced significant economic problems for years and aim for political stability and modernization. For this reason, countries like Argentina, Uruguay, and Peru present themselves as guarantors of stability and democracy in the region.
“Not even (Maduro) believes the electoral scam he is celebrating. Neither does the Argentine Republic. We do not recognize fraud, we call on the international community to unite to restore the rule of law in Venezuela, and we remind the Venezuelan people that the doors of our country are open to every man who chooses to live in freedom.”, stated Argentina’s President Javier Milei.
“I condemn completely all the irregularities with the intention of fraud committed by the Venezuelan government. Peru will not accept the violation of the popular will of the Venezuelan people. The Peruvian ambassador to the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela has been immediately recalled for consultations.” stated Peru’s Foreign Minister Javier Gonzalez-Olaechea.
Along with these two countries, other leaders have also expressed their concerns and their firm stance against the electoral process. Although Latin America appeared fragmented in previous years, an increasing number of political figures are stepping up, and many of these individuals are politically aligned with Washington and Brussels.
“Maduro’s regime must understand that the results are hard to believe. The international community and especially the Venezuelan people, including the millions of Venezuelans in exile, demand total transparency… From Chile we will not recognize any result that is not verifiable.”, stated Chile’s President Gabriel Boric.
“It was an open secret. They were going to ‘win’ regardless of the actual results. The process up to election day and counting was clearly flawed. You cannot recognize a triumph if you can’t trust the forms and mechanisms used to achieve it.” stated Uruguay’s President Luis Lacalle Pou.
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