The European Union has raised concerns over the transparency and legitimacy of Venezuela’s recent presidential elections, which they believe were marred by irregularities. While calls for sanctions are considered premature at this time, the EU is urging for a peaceful resolution to the political crisis currently unfolding in the country.
The National Electoral Council has declared incumbent Nicolas Maduro as the winner of the election, but opposition candidate Edmundo Gonzalez and his supporters dispute the results, claiming to have evidence of a significant victory on their part. Protests have erupted in response to the election outcome, with opposition supporters viewing the ballot as an opportunity to end years of single-party rule.
In a statement released by Josep Borrell, the EU called for maximum transparency in the election results tabulation process and access to voting records from each polling station. However, the statement was not signed by all 27 member states as Hungary blocked the initiative, leading Borrell to release the statement independently.
This veto by Hungary raises concerns about future efforts to implement sanctions against Maduro’s regime, as previous penalties have been in place since 2017. The EU is urging for calm and respect for human rights in Venezuela, while also highlighting obstacles and unequal conditions in the electoral process. The situation in Venezuela remains tense, with uncertainty surrounding the true outcome of the elections, and the EU continues to monitor developments closely.
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