TOKYO — U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the United States has ‘serious concerns’ about the announced result of Venezuela’s hotly contested presidential election that authorities say was won by incumbent Nicolas Maduro.
Speaking in Tokyo on Monday shortly after the announcement was made, Blinken said the U.S. was concerned that the result reflected neither the will nor the votes of the Venezuelan people. He called for election officials to publish the full results transparently and immediately and said the U.S. and the international community would respond accordingly.
“We have seen the announcement just a short while ago by the Venezuelan Electoral Commission,” he said. “We have serious concerns that the result announced does not reflect the will or the votes of the Venezuelan people.”
“It’s critical that every vote be counted fairly and transparently that the electoral authorities immediately share information with the opposition and independent observers without delay and that the electoral authorities publish the tabulation of votes. The international community is watching this very closely and will respond accordingly,” Blinken said.
In Venezuela, the announcement of Sunday’s election results was delayed by several hours, and the National Electoral Council, which is controlled by Maduro loyalists, said Maduro had secured a majority without releasing tallies from polling booths.
Opposition leader Maria Corina Machado was blocked from running. But she said after the council’s announcement that the margin of victory for the opposition’s candidate, Edmundo González, was “overwhelming” based on voting tallies it had received from campaign representatives from about 40% of ballot boxes nationwide.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken recently expressed concerns over the announced result of the Venezuelan election, which saw President Nicolas Maduro secure another term in office. The election, which took place on November 21st, has been met with skepticism and criticism from the international community, with many questioning its legitimacy and fairness.
In a statement released by the State Department, Blinken condemned the election process, stating that it was marred by irregularities and lacked transparency. He also expressed concern over reports of voter intimidation and suppression, as well as the lack of independent international observers present during the election.
The United States has long been critical of Maduro’s government, accusing it of human rights abuses, corruption, and authoritarianism. The Biden administration has imposed sanctions on Venezuela in an effort to pressure the government to restore democracy and respect for human rights.
Blinken’s statement comes as no surprise, as the US has consistently called for free and fair elections in Venezuela. The US has also supported opposition leader Juan Guaido, who declared himself interim president in 2019 and has been recognized by over 50 countries as the legitimate leader of Venezuela.
The international community has also raised concerns about the election results, with the European Union and several Latin American countries calling for an independent investigation into the electoral process. Many have questioned the legitimacy of Maduro’s victory, citing reports of voter coercion and manipulation.
Despite these concerns, Maduro has dismissed criticism of the election, calling it a victory for democracy and a rejection of foreign interference. He has vowed to continue his socialist agenda and push back against what he sees as imperialist attempts to undermine his government.
As the situation in Venezuela continues to unfold, it is clear that the international community will be closely monitoring developments and pushing for accountability and transparency in the electoral process. The US and its allies will likely continue to pressure Maduro’s government to address concerns and work towards a peaceful resolution to the ongoing political crisis in Venezuela.
