The European Union (EU) has voiced significant concerns regarding the legitimacy of Venezuela’s recent presidential elections, prompting calls for independent verification of the results. This was highlighted in a statement by the EU’s High Representative, Josep Borrell, delivered on Tuesday.
The controversy follows the declaration by Venezuela’s National Electoral Council (CNE) that the incumbent President Nicolás Maduro won the election with 51.2 percent of the vote, surpassing opposition candidate Edmundo González Urrutia’s 44.2 percent. Borrell pointed out the partial and unverifiable nature of the CNE’s results, which accounted for only 80 percent of the total votes and lacked transparency due to restricted access to voting records.
Both Maduro and González have since claimed victory, with González’s camp asserting he secured over 73 percent of the vote. This dramatic disparity has ignited widespread protests across major Venezuelan cities.
Internationally, reactions to the election outcomes are polarized. Russian President Vladimir Putin congratulated Maduro, emphasizing strong bilateral ties. Conversely, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has expressed “serious concerns” and demanded a transparent audit of the vote count. Other regional leaders, such as Chile’s Foreign Minister Alberto van Klaveren and Costa Rica’s President Rodrigo Chaves, have echoed similar calls for international scrutiny before recognizing the CNE’s declaration.
González has outrightly rejected the official results, arguing that the true will of the Venezuelan electorate must be upheld. In his statement, Borrell emphasized the necessity for transparency by ensuring public access to all voting records and facilitating independent verification. He also urged Venezuelan authorities to maintain peace during the protests and to safeguard human rights.
As the situation continues to evolve, the EU’s call for an open and verifiable electoral process remains a focal point in the ongoing debate over Venezuela’s political future.