Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has faced mounting pressure to release all vote tallies from a disputed weekend election, following protests and concerns about the transparency of the results. Maduro has promised to show the electoral tally sheets and requested an audit of the election by the Supreme Court. International leaders have called for a transparent vote count and professional international supervision to end the violence and allow for a peaceful resolution.
Despite the National Electoral Council officially declaring Maduro the winner with 51 percent support, opposition leaders have decried the results as fraudulent. Opposition candidate Gonzalez claims to have evidence that he actually won the election. Protests erupted in response to the official results, with demonstrations in Caracas and other parts of the country met with force by police. At least 11 people have been killed in incidents related to the election count or the protests, raising concerns about a crackdown on demonstrations.
Opposition leaders claim to have access to 90 percent of vote tallies, which show Gonzalez winning more than twice as many votes as Maduro. However, they face challenges in proving this to international observers. There is a small chance of negotiations for a transition of power, but the government’s lack of transparency in sharing the tallies suggests that they are taking the worst path for themselves and the country. The foreign ministers of G7 countries have called for detailed electoral results and transparency, while the Carter Center has stated that the election did not meet international standards of electoral integrity.
The Carter Center cited various problems with the electoral process, including short voter registration deadlines, unequal campaign conditions, and a clear bias in favor of Maduro by the CNE. Despite the desire of the Venezuelan people to participate in a democratic election process, the lack of transparency in announcing results has undermined their efforts. Maduro has accused the protesters of violence and blamed Gonzalez for the unrest, further perpetuating the political turmoil in Venezuela.
In response to the escalating crisis, Colombia’s President Gustavo Petro has called for a transparent vote count and professional international supervision to allow for a peaceful resolution. Maduro’s government’s refusal to provide full transparency and cooperate with international observers has only added to the uncertainty and tension in Venezuela. The situation remains volatile as Maduro maintains his grip on power, while opposition leaders and protesters continue to demand a recount and a fair election process. The coming days will be critical in determining the future of Venezuela and the resolution of the disputed election.
