The leading opposition party in Venezuela is calling for protests around the world this Saturday to dispute the electoral victory of incumbent President Nicolás Maduro, which was upheld by the country’s Supreme Court of Justice.
President of the Court Caryslia Beatriz Rodríguez stated that the decision is final and not appealable. Both Maduro and opposition candidate Edmundo González claimed victory in the election, triggering hearings in court to validate the result. González was not present at the hearings due to concerns about his safety.
As a result of the opposition’s claim to an electoral victory, the government has launched criminal investigations which accuse González and other opposition figures of instigating an insurrection. Maduro has characterized the planned demonstrations as a violent and hateful attack on the rule of law in Venezuela.
The government’s National Electoral Council (CNE) released results stating Maduro won the July 28 election by a narrow margin. These have been disputed by the opposition, many members of the international community, and independent observers. Electoral tally sheets released by the opposition suggest that opposition candidate Edmundo González won the election by a dramatic margin. This result is supported by exit polls, quick counts, and independent observers, according to US Secretary of State Antony Blinken.
Blinken went on to say that the CNE’s “failure to provide the precinct-level official results, as well as irregularities throughout the process, have stripped the CNE’s announced outcome of any credibility.”
Most Western countries have not recognized the legitimacy of Maduro’s claimed victory, while many others, including Russia and China, have supported the CNE’s results.
Independent poll watchers were harassed and arrested during the election, according to the Washington Post.
There is presently a US arrest warrant out for Maduro for narco-terrorism, corruption, and drug trafficking. The Biden administration has allegedly offered Maduro amnesty in exchange for stepping down from power, according to the Wall Street Journal.
