Venezuela has severed diplomatic ties with seven Latin American countries, accusing them of doubting the fairness of the recent presidential election. The decision comes after President Nicolas Maduro claimed victory, despite allegations of widespread electoral fraud by the opposition.
The opposition candidate, Edmundo González, maintains that he won the election, presenting evidence to support his claim that the results were rigged in favor of Maduro. Following the election, several countries expressed skepticism over the outcome declared by Venezuela’s election office, prompting a furious response from the Maduro government.
The Maduro administration withdrew its diplomatic staff from Argentina, Chile, Costa Rica, Peru, Panama, the Dominican Republic, and Uruguay, citing their “interventionist actions and statements.” These countries had jointly issued a statement demanding a thorough review of the election results.
Venezuela’s foreign minister, Yván Gil, asserted the country’s right to self-determination and vowed to defend it against any threats to national peace and coexistence. The government’s decision to expel the diplomatic missions of these nations underscores the escalating tensions surrounding the election.
The controversy stems from the National Electoral Council, controlled by the Maduro regime, declaring Maduro the victor despite independent exit polls indicating a significant loss for him. The council reported Maduro securing 51.1% of the vote against González’s 44%, while opposition leaders and credible independent firms claimed González had won more than 65% of the vote.
Maduro’s re-election bid for a third six-year term was marred by allegations of opposition intimidation and concerns about election rigging. Opposition parties accused the regime of large-scale electoral fraud, a sentiment echoed by officials from the expelled countries. Some of these officials have called for a meeting at the Organization of American States to assess the situation in Venezuela.
