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Secretary of State Antony Blinken has voiced “serious concerns” about the Venezuelan presidential election results, where President Nicolás Maduro was declared the winner despite opposition claims of victory and allegations of election manipulation.
What Blinken said: While speaking to reporters in Tokyo, Secretary Blinken said, “We have serious concerns that the result announced does not reflect the will or the votes of the Venezuelan people. It’s critical that every vote be counted fairly and transparently, that election officials immediately share information with the opposition and independent observers without delay, and that the electoral authorities publish the detailed tabulation of votes. The international community is watching this very closely and will respond accordingly.”
What’s the deal: The Venezuelan presidential election has sparked considerable controversy after the election council declared President Nicolás Maduro the winner with 51% of the vote. This outcome has been challenged due to widespread allegations of irregularities and manipulation. Opposition candidate Edmundo González and various reports claim that the official results do not accurately reflect the votes cast, citing issues such as voter intimidation and polling place irregularities. Specific allegations include:
- Some polling stations were opened late and others were kept open longer than scheduled to manipulate the vote.
- Street checkpoints were employed to restrict travel and intimidate voters considering voting against Maduro.
- Armed men stole ballot boxes at key voting locations.
- Maduro’s ruling party allegedly bused voters to polling places to ensure they voted for him.
- Blocking International observers from viewing the election.
What Maduro is saying: President Nicolás Maduro has accused unidentified foreign countries of trying to undermine Venezuela’s presidential election by attempting to “influence” and “hack” the voting system. He claimed these foreign actors sought to destabilize Venezuela and violate on its sovereignty, portraying their actions as part of a broader effort to “disrupt the peace” of the nation.
What countries are questioning results: In addition to the United States, the European Union, Canada, United Kingdom, Argentina, Colombia, Chile, Uruguay , Peru, Ecuador, Guatemala, and Costa Rica.
What countries have congratulated Maduro: Russia, Cuba, Honduras, Bolivia, and Nicaragua.
