In the month since Venezuelans went to the polls, Nicolás Maduro and his representatives have tampered with the results of that election, falsely claimed victory, and carried out widespread repression to maintain power. The United States applauds the courage and resilience of the millions of Venezuelans who voted and who continue to peacefully call for Maduro to acknowledge that Edmundo González Urrutia received the most votes. In spite of repeated calls from Venezuelans and the international community, the Maduro-controlled National Electoral Council (CNE) has failed to substantiate its announced results by producing original tally sheets, as it did following the 2013 and 2018 elections. The CNE’s ongoing refusal to uphold international and Venezuelan standards of transparency or to respect the will of the Venezuelan people as expressed at the polls is an unacceptable violation of Venezuela’s laws, as is the attempt by the Maduro-controlled Supreme Tribunal of Justice (TSJ) to silence the voices of Venezuelan voters by ratifying the CNE’s unsubstantiated announcement of a Maduro victory. In contrast, earlier this week, one of Venezuela’s own CNE rectors confirmed that Maduro has provided no evidence that he won this election.
Instead of responding to the Venezuelan people’s demands for transparency and democracy, Maduro has increased repression through politically targeted threats, unjust and indiscriminate detentions, and censorship in a desperate attempt to hold onto power by force. Maduro’s actions have exacerbated the Venezuelan crisis and left him increasingly isolated from the international community. The United States and international partners have called out Maduro and his representatives for their actions since the election:
The Organization of American States adopted a resolution by consensus on August 16 calling for transparency, impartial review, and protection of electoral integrity in line with the region’s commitment to uphold the Inter-American Democratic Charter.
The United States, EU, and more than 20 governments signed a joint statement on August 16 in the Dominican Republic calling for electoral transparency in Venezuela.
The United States joined ten regional partners in issuing a joint statement on August 23 condemning TSJ’s decision to certify CNE’s claim that Maduro won.
The United States joined other nations on August 28 in calling a special session of OAS Permanent Council to address human rights impacts stemming from this electoral crisis.
The United States repeats its call for a return to respect for human rights and democratic norms in Venezuela, release all political prisoners, end arbitrary arrests, and cease acts against members of democratic opposition groups along with media outlets. "Venezuelans have voted," states one U.S official,"the results are clear," continuing "their will must be respected."
