EU skeptical of purported Maduro victory in Venezuela

Incumbent President Nicolás Maduro’s self-proclaimed victory in the presidential election in Venezuela was met with widespread skepticism in Europe on Monday, with leaders declining to recognize his reelection until a transparent counting of the ballots takes place.

“The people of Venezuela voted on the future of their country peacefully and in large numbers,” the European Union’s top diplomat, Josep Borrell, wrote on X. “Their will must be respected.”

“Ensuring full transparency in the electoral process, including detailed counting of votes and access to voting records at polling stations, is vital,” he added.

Suspicion about the elections’ results were raised early on Monday morning, when the vote tally was abruptly interrupted at a moment when opposition candidate Edmundo González appeared to have a substantial lead over the incumbent. Shortly thereafter, Maduro claimed victory, with the country’s National Electoral Council alleging that he had won 51 percent of the vote.

Simon Stano, spokesperson for the EU’s diplomatic service, said: “We are assessing the process and the outcome of the elections in close contact with national, regional and international actors on the ground. However, we are concerned about allegations of flaws and shortcomings.”

With Venezuela’s opposition accusing Maduro’s regime of attempting to steal the election, national leaders in Europe largely avoided commenting on the disputed vote, and instead tasked their foreign ministers with delivering official reactions.

“The people of Venezuela voted on the future of their country peacefully and in large numbers,” the European Union’s top diplomat, Josep Borrell, wrote on X. “Their will must be respected.” | Jesus Vargas/Getty Images

“We want total transparency and that is why we are asking for the publication of the results, polling station by polling station,” Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares told Cadena Ser, adding that Madrid was helping to establish a common position toward the developing situation by liaising between Brussels and “sister nations” in the region.

“Spain is working towards a scenario in which the calm, tranquillity and democratic spirit that prevailed during the vote is maintained,” he said. “We do not have a favored candidate, we just want transparent results.”

A German foreign ministry spokesperson told POLITICO they were deeply concerned by reports of opposition supporters being denied the right to participate in the vote count, and called on the Venezuelan authorities to publish detailed election results broken down by polling station.

The EU’s foreign ministers declined to recognize the results of Venezuela’s December 2020 elections, which they said “failed to comply with the international standards for a democratic process.” Last February the European Parliament passed a resolution calling for the release of imprisoned opposition politicians and activists and for tougher sanctions against Venezuela.

Brussels has mainly targeted Maduro’s regime by imposing travel bans and asset seizures on around 50 high-ranking generals, supreme court judges and senior politicians. Caracas has responded in turn by severing ties with Brussels and expelling EU ambassador Isabel Brilhante Pedrosa from the country.

European leaders were not alone in expressing doubts over Maduro’s reelection. U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken similarly called for a “fair and transparent” vote tally, and within the region Chilean president Gabriel Boric said the victory was “difficult to believe.” He added that his country could not recognize “any result that is not verifiable.”

Additional reporting by Hans von der Burchard.