The recent Venezuelan presidential election has sparked a wave of international reactions, highlighting the contentious nature of the results. On Sunday, President Nicolas Maduro was declared the winner by Venezuela’s national electoral authority, securing a third term with 51 per cent of the vote. However, the opposition candidate, Edmundo Gonzalez, claimed victory, supported by independent exit polls indicating a landslide in his favour. The disputed outcome has been met with concern by some world leaders, and felicitations by others.
In response to the election, Panama announced it was putting its diplomatic relations with Venezuela “on hold” and would withdraw its diplomatic personnel until a full review of the election results is conducted. President Jose Raul Mulino emphasised the need for a thorough examination of the voting records and the voting computer system. Panama joined eight other Latin American countries in calling for an emergency meeting of the Organization of American States (OAS) to address their concerns about the electoral process.
The United States also expressed severe doubts about the election’s legitimacy. The Biden administration criticised the electoral manipulation, stating that it stripped Maduro’s re-election victory of “any credibility.” Senior US officials demanded that Maduro publish a detailed vote tabulation, warning that failure to do so would lead to a lack of international acceptance of the announced outcome. The possibility of fresh sanctions against Venezuela was left open, contingent on Maduro’s actions moving forward. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken underscored “serious concerns” that the election results did not reflect the will of the Venezuelan people.
The European Union echoed similar sentiments, with EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell stating that the EU could not recognise the election results until all polling station records were published and verified. Borrell highlighted numerous flaws and irregularities reported during the election and called for a full and timely investigation of post-electoral complaints. The EU’s demand for transparency underscores the broader international scepticism regarding the election’s fairness.
Not everyone reacted negatively to the contested results. Some world leaders, including Russian President Vladimir Putin, offered their congratulations to Maduro. “Russian-Venezuelan relations have the character of a strategic partnership. I am confident that your activities at the head of state will continue to contribute to their progressive development in all directions. I would like to confirm our readiness to continue our constructive joint work on topical issues on the bilateral and international agenda. Remember that you are always a welcome guest on Russian soil,” he said. Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel praised Maduro’s victory as a defeat of the pro-Imperialist opposition and a win for the Bolivarian Revolution. Honduran President Xiomara Castro also extended her congratulations, celebrating the re-election as a reaffirmation of Venezuela’s sovereignty and the legacy of Hugo Chavez.
