A joint EU statement denouncing “irregularities” in Venezuela’s presidential election was blocked by Hungary, prompting Josep Borrell to release his own statement.
The European Union has joined the voices that demand greater transparency in Venezuela to clarify who has been the legitimate winner of the presidential elections held on Sundaywhich Brussels describes as “marred by numerous failures and irregularities.”
However, calls for new sanctions are “premature” at this time, a spokesperson said this Tuesday, insisting on the need to “find a way out of the political crisis.”
“Discussions between member states continue. Also we are interacting with our partnersat national, regional and international levels, to evaluate the entire process and decide on possible next steps,” the spokesperson stated.
“But any discussion, any decision regarding sanctions are being taken confidentially between the member statesso this is very premature.”
He National Electoral Council (CNE), controlled by allies of the Government, has declared the current president, Nicolás Maduro, the winner of the electionswith 51.2% of the votes, followed by Edmundo Gonzálezopposition candidate, with 44.2%.
But González and his political alliance, the Unitary Platformhave vigorously contested the results, arguing that the figures published by the CNE do not coincide with opinion polls and statistical estimates.
The opposition claims that it has obtained 73% of the scrutiny records, which show that González obtained 3.5 million more votes than Maduro. “We have in our hands the records that demonstrate our categorical and mathematically irreversible victory,” González told his supporters.
Although the elections were hailed as one of the most peaceful in recent times, the protests they sparked were have become increasingly tense, with protesters taking to the streets and confronting the Police. Opposition supporters saw Sunday’s elections as the most credible opportunity to end 25 years of one-party rule.
Maduro has condemned the demonstrations, pointing the finger at the United States. “It is trying to impose a coup d’état in Venezuela again of a fascist and counterrevolutionary nature,” said the president. “We already know this movie.”
Hungary’s veto strikes back
One of the points of contention is the CNE’s refusal to publish the results details for each constituency, which can be used to compare figures at the national level.
In a statement issued on Monday At night, the head of European diplomacy, Josep Borrell, asked the CNE to “exercise maximum transparency in the process tabulation of results, including immediate access to the voting records of each polling station and the publication of disaggregated electoral results”.
“The results of the elections have not been verified and cannot be considered representative of the will of the people of Venezuela until all the official records of the electoral colleges are published and verified,” Borrell declared.
“The EU does a call for calm and urges security forces to ensure full respect for human rights, including the right to peaceful assembly,” he added.
EU says there were ‘unequal conditions’ in vote
The statement lists a series of “obstacles” and “unequal conditions” in the electoral process, such as arbitrary arrests and intimidation of opposition membersdeficiencies in the electoral roll and imbalance in access to the media.
Initially, the text was going to be signed by the 27 Member States, but Hungary blocked the initiative, according to an EU official with knowledge of the talks. This led Borrell to publish the statement on your ownspeaking on behalf of the block.
An almost identical situation occurred last month, when Hungary prevented the publication of a joint statement which denounced the Kremlin’s ban on Western media.
The veto spells bad news for any future efforts to strengthen sanctions against the Maduro regime. Current EU sanctions They date back to 2017 and include a ban on arms exports and equipment used to suppress street protests and the blacklist of 54 people accused of undermining democracy and the rule of law in Venezuela.
