(Caracas) The European Union has further increased international pressure on Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, considering that “for lack of proof” his victory in the presidential election of July 28 cannot be “recognized”, with Pope Francis calling for “seeking the truth”.
“Despite its commitment to do so, the National Electoral Council of Venezuela (CNE) has still not published the official minutes of the polling stations. In the absence of evidence to support them, the results published on 2 August by the National Electoral Council cannot be recognised,” the EU Council said in a statement, calling for “independent verification”.
The CNE ratified Mr Maduro’s victory on Friday with 52% of the vote against 43% for Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia, who replaced at short notice the leader of the opposition Maria Corina Machado, declared ineligible for the July 28 election. A widely contested result.
The unrest that followed the proclamation left 13 people dead and more than 2,000 arrested, Maduro said, adding that two members of the National Guard were killed. NGOs reported 11 civilians killed.
Unlike the United States and several other countries, however, the EU has refrained from formally recognising Mr Gonzalez Urrutia’s victory.
“Copies of the electoral records published by the opposition and reviewed by several independent organizations indicate that Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia appears to be the winner of the presidential election with a substantial majority,” she nevertheless recalled.
Claiming to be the victim of computer hacking, the CNE has still not given details of the vote office by office.
The opposition believes that this is a maneuver to avoid revealing the real results, and has published on a website the minutes of each office. According to these documents, the validity of which is rejected by Mr. Maduro, Mr. Gonzalez Urrutia won the election with 67% of the votes.
Pope Francis on Sunday launched “a sincere appeal to all parties to seek the truth and avoid any type of violence.”
PHOTO MARIO TOMASSETTI, PROVIDED BY REUTERS
Pope Francis on Sunday called on Venezuela to “seek the truth”
Addressing the crowd in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican, the Argentine pontiff also called on the country to “resolve differences through dialogue and take into account the true interests of the people.”
“Exemplary conduct” of the National Guard
Mme Machado thanked seven European countries on Sunday, including France, which in a joint statement asked Venezuela to “quickly publish all the minutes” of the polling stations, welcoming their “commitment to democracy.”
“We also appreciate the call for an end to the persecution and repression that has been cruelly deployed against innocent people in recent hours,” she added.
Mr Maduro on Sunday congratulated the Bolivarian National Guard (GNB) – a military body responsible for public order – for its “exemplary conduct” during the protests, which he said were part of an “imperialist coup d’état”.
On Saturday evening, in front of thousands of supporters, he warned that he would not allow the opposition “to usurp the presidency once again.”
In 2019, following an already controversial re-election of Mr. Maduro, part of the international community recognized the opponent Juan Guaidó as interim “president.” An initiative that ended in failure.
The United States, which maintains its sanctions against Venezuela, has reported “overwhelming evidence” of a victory for Mr. Gonzalez Urrutia. Several countries have recognized him as “president-elect.”
Russia and China, traditional allies of Caracas, have on the other hand given their support to Mr Maduro.
Countries like Brazil, Colombia and Mexico have simply called for a resolution to the crisis.
Mme Machado, who said Thursday she was living “in hiding” and “fearing for her life,” vowed Saturday at a rally in the capital to continue the fight. “We are not going to leave the streets,” she said.