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A stark divide in global reactions to Venezuela’s disputed election | Election news

Posted on by darion

Reactions to the announcement that President Nicolas Maduro has won Venezuela’s elections for a third time have exposed the deep divisions around the world.

Venezuelan electoral authorities announced Monday that Maduro had won the race with 51 percent of the vote. But the opposition says its candidate, retired diplomat Edmundo Gonzalez, won about 70 percent.

The electoral body has not yet released official figures on the number of votes cast in Venezuela’s 30,000 polling stations, making it difficult for the opposition to verify the results.

However, reactions to the announced results came quickly:

United States

Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the United States has “grave concerns that the announced outcome does not reflect the will and vote of the Venezuelan people.

“It is critical that every vote is counted fairly and transparently, that election officials share information promptly with the opposition and independent observers, and that electoral authorities publish detailed vote tallies,” he said.

United Kingdom

London authorities have expressed concern over allegations of “irregularities” in the vote counting.

“We call for the swift and transparent publication of full, detailed results to ensure they reflect the voices of the Venezuelan people,” the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

European Union

“The people of Venezuela voted peacefully and in large numbers on the future of their country. Their will must be respected. Ensuring full transparency of the electoral process, including detailed vote counting and access to voting records at polling stations, is crucial,” wrote EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell on X.

Chile

“The Maduro regime must understand that the published results are hard to believe,” President Gabriel Boric said in a post on X.

“The international community, and especially the Venezuelan people, including millions of Venezuelans in exile, demand complete transparency of the electoral records and process, and for international observers not affiliated with the government to report on the accuracy of the results. Chile and I will not recognize any result that cannot be verified,” Boric wrote on X.

Peru

“I condemn in the strongest terms the sum of the irregularities aimed at fraud committed by the Venezuelan government. Peru will not accept to violate the will of the Venezuelan people,” wrote Foreign Minister Javier Gonzales-Olaechea on X.

“The Peruvian ambassador to the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela was immediately summoned for consultations.”

Columbia

“After maintaining constant contact with all the political actors involved in the presidential elections… We believe that the voices of all sectors must be heard. It is important to dispel any doubts about the results,” wrote Foreign Minister Luis Gilberto Murillo on X.

The Colombian government is calling for “a full vote count, verification and independent audit as soon as possible,” he added.

Argentina

“Argentina will not accept another fraud and hopes that this time the Armed Forces will defend democracy and the will of the people,” President Javier Milei said before the results were announced.

Unlike Western allies, several other countries expressed their congratulations to Maduro.

Russia

“Russian-Venezuelan relations are of a strategic partnership nature. I am convinced that your actions as head of state will continue to contribute to their progressive development in all directions,” President Vladimir Putin said.

“I would like to reaffirm our readiness to continue constructive joint work on current issues on the bilateral and international agenda. Remember that you are always a welcome guest on Russian soil.”

Russia and Venezuela
Putin meets with Maduro’s Venezuelan counterpart in 2018. (Maxim Shemetov/Reuters)

China

China congratulated Maduro on his “successful re-election” and Venezuela on the “smooth conduct of the presidential election,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian said.

“China is ready to enrich our all-weather strategic partnership and better utilize it for the benefit of the people of both countries,” he said. “China and Venezuela are good friends and partners who support each other.”

Cuba

President Miguel Diaz-Canel expressed his support for Maduro’s victory.

“Nicolas Maduro, my brother, your victory, which is the victory of the Bolivarian and Chavista people, has clearly and unequivocally defeated the pro-imperialist opposition,” he wrote on X. “They have also defeated the regional, interventionist and Monroist right. The people have spoken and the revolution has won.”

Former President Raul Castro also spoke to Maduro by phone to congratulate him, Diaz-Canel’s office said.

Honduras

“Our special congratulations and democratic, socialist and revolutionary greetings to President Nicolas Maduro and the courageous people of Venezuela for their indisputable triumph, which confirms their sovereignty and the historical legacy of commander Hugo Chávez,” wrote President Xiomara Castro on her X account.

Bolivia

“We have closely followed this democratic celebration and we are happy that the will of the Venezuelan people in the elections has been respected. We want to ratify our readiness to continue to strengthen the bonds of friendship, cooperation and solidarity with the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela,” said President Luis Arce in a post on X.