The European Union has officially refused to recognize Nicolás Maduro’s victory in the Venezuelan presidential election held on July 28, 2024, citing a lack of transparency and evidence to support the results announced by the National Electoral Council (CNE) on August 2. The EU Council stated, ‘Without proof to support them, the results published by the CNE on August 2 cannot be recognized’.The EU has called for an independent verification of the electoral records, possibly by an internationally recognized institution. According to copies of voting records published by the opposition and verified by several independent organizations, opposition candidate Edmundo González Urrutia appears to have won the election with a significant majority.The situation has led to widespread protests across Venezuela, resulting in at least 13 deaths and over 2,000 arrests, according to reports. The EU has expressed concern over increased arbitrary detentions, repression, and violent rhetoric against opposition members and civil society, calling for the release of all political prisoners.In response to the EU’s stance, President Maduro has lashed out, calling the European Union and its High Representative for Foreign Affairs, Josep Borrell, a ‘disgrace’. Maduro criticized the EU for recognizing Juan Guaidó in the past and accused Borrell of leading Ukraine to war.The international community remains divided on the issue. While the EU has not formally recognized González Urrutia’s victory, the United States, Peru, and Argentina have officially recognized him as the new President of Venezuela. The Pope has called for truth-seeking and a peaceful resolution to the crisis, urging all parties to ‘avoid any type of violence’ and resolve controversies through dialogue.
Key points
- The EU has refused to recognize Maduro’s victory in the Venezuelan presidential election due to lack of transparency.
- The EU is calling for an independent verification of the election results, possibly by an internationally recognized institution.
- Opposition candidate Edmundo González Urrutia appears to have won the election with a significant majority, according to independent verifications.
- Protests and unrest have erupted in Venezuela, leading to deaths and numerous arrests.
- The international community remains divided, with some countries recognizing González Urrutia as the new president.
Contradictions👾While the EU and some countries refuse to recognize Maduro’s victory, the Venezuelan National Electoral Council (CNE) has ratified it.
👾There are conflicting reports on the exact number of casualties and arrests resulting from the protests.
