Numerous countries voiced skepticism on Monday regarding the openness of Venezuela's election, following the declaration of Nicolas Maduro as the victor, while his customary supporters offered their congratulations to the seasoned leader. President Maduro secured another term with 51.2 percent of the votes, as reported by the electoral council (CNE), which predominantly supports him. The opposition candidate, Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia, was said to have received 44.2 percent, according to the CNE, but his coalition proclaimed victory, asserting that they had secured 70 percent of the votes. Here are the reactions from global leaders regarding the contested election outcome.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken expressed that Washington harbors significant doubts that the declared outcome accurately represents the desires or votes of the Venezuelan populace. "It is imperative that each vote be tallied fairly and openly, that election officials promptly share data with the opposition and independent observers without hesitation, and that the electoral authorities release the comprehensive tally of votes," Blinken stated in Japan. "The international community is closely monitoring this situation and will react appropriately."
Britain expressed its "concern" over accusations of "irregularities" in Venezuela's vote tally. "We urge for the prompt and transparent release of comprehensive, detailed results to guarantee that the outcome mirrors the votes of the Venezuelan people," the foreign office declared in an announcement. Russian President Vladimir Putin extended congratulations to his ally Maduro, noting "Russian-Venezuelan relations embody the nature of a strategic partnership. I am confident that your leadership will further advance their development across all sectors." "Recall that you are always welcome in Russia," Putin added.
China offered its congratulations to Venezuela for "successfully conducting its presidential election," and to Maduro for "his successful re-election," as stated by foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jian. "China is prepared to enhance our all-weather strategic partnership and better serve the interests of both nations," he said. "China and Venezuela are steadfast friends and partners who support one another," he further noted. Beijing holds the primary creditor position for Venezuela.
Peru withdrew its ambassador from Caracas due to the "gravely concerning" results declared in Venezuela, while Costa Rica's President Rodrigo Chaves denounced what he termed the "fraudulent" outcome, and Chilean President Gabriel Boric found Maduro's victory "hard to accept". Colombia's Foreign Minister Luis Gilberto Murillo advocated for an "independent audit" of the outcome. Argentina's right-wing President Javier Milei posted on social media: "DICTATOR MADURO, OUT!!!" However, Maduro received backing from Latin American allies.
Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel communicated with "brother" Maduro to "convey warm congratulations on behalf of the party, the government, and the Cuban people for the historic electoral victory achieved". Nicaragua, Bolivia, and Honduras also offered their congratulations. Europe's stance emphasized the necessity for "transparency" in the voting procedure. "The people of Venezuela cast their votes for the future of their country peacefully and in significant numbers. Their will must be honored. Ensuring full transparency in the electoral process, including detailed vote counting and access to voting records at polling stations, is crucial," stated EU foreign affairs chief Josep Borrell.
"What we desire is complete transparency in the process," remarked Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares. "And that is why we are requesting, and also expecting, the publication of the results table by table, so that we can validate the outcomes." Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani expressed his "perplexity" over Maduro's win. "We want the results to be verified with access to documents: does the announcement of Maduro's victory truly reflect the will of the people?"
