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Venezuela Clashes Spread After Elections

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News

CARACAS (Worthy News) – Clashes have spread across Venezuela, killing several people as opponents and supporters of the South American nation’s President Nicolas Maduro rally after a weekend election in which the long-ruling socialist leader was declared the winner, despite protests.

The renewed instability brought divided international reaction: the United States said Maduro’s reelection had no credibility and was mulling more sanctions, while China and Russia congratulated him.

In Venezuela, Protesters took to the streets on Tuesday, demanding that President Maduro acknowledge he lost Sunday’s election to the opposition, as international observers concluded the vote was undemocratic.

The protests, which the government denounced as an attempted “coup,” began Monday after Venezuela’s electoral authority stated that Maduro won a third term “with 51 percent” of the vote.

The opposition, which considers the election body to be in the pocket of a dictatorial government, says its candidate Edmundo Gonzalez had more than twice as many votes.

They say their conclusion was based on the 90 vote tallies it has accessed and that authorities are illegally trying to extend a quarter-century of socialist rule.

At least 11 people have been killed in different parts of the country since the election in incidents related to the count or associated protests, according to the rights group Foro Penal.

US WORRIED

The United States was among the countries sharing those worries. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the United States has “serious concerns” about the announced result of Venezuela’s contested presidential election, which authorities say Maduro won.

Speaking in Tokyo shortly after the announcement, Blinken said the US was concerned that the result reflected neither the will nor the votes of the Venezuelan people.

He called for election officials to publish the full results transparently and immediately and said the U.S. and the international community would respond accordingly.

“We saw the announcement just a short while ago by the Venezuelan Electoral Commission. We have serious concerns that the result announced does not reflect the will or the votes of the Venezuelan people.”

“It’s critical that every vote be counted fairly and transparently, that the electoral authorities immediately share information with the opposition and independent observers without delay, and that the electoral authorities publish the tabulation of votes. The international community is watching this closely and will respond accordingly,” Blinken stressed.

The European Union agrees with its foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell, who called on Venezuela to ensure “full transparency in the electoral process.”

“The people of Venezuela voted on the future of their country peacefully and in large numbers. Their will must be respected. Ensuring full transparency in the electoral process, including detailed counting of votes and access to voting records at polling stations, is vital,” Borrell said on social media platform X.

RUSSIA, CHINA HAPPY

Both China and Russia congratulated Maduro on his re-election.

Foreign ministry spokesman Lin Jian gave a regular briefing, saying, “China stands ready to enrich our all-weather strategic partnership and better benefit the peoples of both countries.”

“Russian-Venezuelan relations have the character of a strategic partnership. I am confident that your work as the head of state will continue to contribute to their progressive development in all areas … Remember that you are always welcome on Russian soil,” Russian President Vladimir Putin said

Other leaders across the Americas also reacted to Venezuela’s electoral authority’s announcement: Nine Latin American governments said they would call for an emergency meeting of the Organization of American States (OAS) Permanent Council.

The governments of Argentina, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Guatemala, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, and Uruguay express “profound concern” over Sunday’s election.

Ecuador’s President Daniel Noboa called for the OAS meeting to discuss the “delicate situation” in Venezuela. He also said, “Throughout the region, there are politicians who try to cling to power and who intend to snatch peace from our citizens,” warning of “the danger of dictatorship.”

Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador told a press conference he would wait until 100 percent of the results of Venezuela’s election were reported before recognizing a winner.

BAZIL GOVERNMENT

The Brazilian government has called for the “impartial verification” of Venezuela’s election results.

Brasilia “reaffirms the fundamental principle of popular sovereignty, which must be respected through the impartial verification of the results,” the foreign ministry said.

Brazil’s government also hailed a “peaceful” election day in Venezuela and said it closely monitored the vote count.

Peru announced it had recalled its ambassador to Venezuela for consultation over the election results.

“I condemn in all extremity the sum of irregularities with the intention of fraud committed by the Venezuelan government. Peru will not accept the violation of the popular will of the Venezuelan people,” Peruvian Foreign Minister Javier Gonzalez-Olaechea said on X.

“The Peruvian ambassador to the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela has been immediately recalled for consultations.”

Similarly, Argentina strongly disputed Maduro’s win. “DICTATOR MADURO, OUT! Venezuelans chose to end the communist dictatorship of Nicolás Maduro,” Argentine President Javier Milei asserted on X.

DATA QUESTIONED

“The data announced a landslide victory for the opposition, and the world is waiting for them to recognize their defeat after years of socialism, misery, decadence, and death. Argentina will not recognize another fraud and expects the Armed Forces this time to defend democracy and the will of the people,” he wrote.

Chile said it would “not recognize any result that is not verifiable.”

“Maduro’s regime must understand that the results are hard to believe. The international community, especially the Venezuelan people, including the millions of Venezuelans in exile, demand total transparency,” Chile President Gabriel Boric stressed.

It came as more social upheaval was expected on Wednesday.