Posted: Friday, August 2, 2024. 10:06 am CST.
By Zoila Palma Gonzalez: U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Brian Nichols addressed the Organization of American States (OAS) Permanent Council on Tuesday, urging the body to uphold democratic principles in Venezuela following the contentious July 28 presidential election.
Nichols commended Venezuelans for their participation despite severe challenges but criticized the Venezuelan Electoral Council for its lack of transparency.
He highlighted reports of irregularities, including the expulsion of opposition poll watchers and the failure to release detailed voting data.
Nichols also pointed to discrepancies between official results and independent assessments, including those from The Carter Center, which indicated Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia had a clear victory over Nicolás Maduro.
“As of yesterday, 24,045 of these actas obtained at each precinct had been uploaded to the internet, representing more than 80% of the 30,016 voting tables in Venezuela and more than 10.5 million of the votes cast on July 28.
The tabulation of these detailed results clearly show an irrefutable result ̶ Edmundo Gonzalez won with 67 percent of these votes compared to 30 percent for Maduro, a margin of victory for Gonzalez of 3.9 million votes and 37 percentage points. Simply put, there are not enough votes in remaining tally sheets or actas to overcome such a deficit” Nichols said.
Nichols condemned the Venezuelan government’s repression of opposition members and protesters, calling for the release of political prisoners and an end to violence.
He also emphasized the need for international support for Venezuelan democracy and urged the OAS to stand firm in its commitment to democratic norms.
The Assistant Secretary also criticized Maduro’s expulsion of diplomats from several countries and reiterated the U.S. commitment to supporting Venezuelan democracy and advocating for transparency and dialogue.
“Mr. Chairman, we must continue to stand with the Venezuelan people and with democracy in Venezuela. We will continue to use diplomacy and coordinated actions with the international community to ensure respect for the wishes of the Venezuelan people as expressed at the ballot box.
And we will continue to call for dialogue and transparency rather than violence and repression against the opposition, civil society, and those Venezuelans who are peacefully demanding that their rights be respected.
With the support of the international community, the Venezuelan people can move toward a better future – a more democratic path, one with economic recovery, political stability, and prosperity for Venezuelans” Nichols expressed.
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The post International News: U.S. Assistant Secretary Nichols addresses OAS on Venezuela election appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
Posted: Friday, August 2, 2024. 10:06 am CST. By Zoila Palma Gonzalez: U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Brian Nichols addressed the Organization of American States (OAS) Permanent
The post International News: U.S. Assistant Secretary Nichols addresses OAS on Venezuela election appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.