The European Union has rejected the electoral results in Venezuela, which declared Nicolás Maduro the winner over opposition candidate Edmundo González in last Sunday's election. The EU argued that the July 28 elections "did not meet international standards of electoral integrity" and noted that the National Electoral Council (CNE) has not yet published the official voting records despite previous commitments.
"Despite its commitment, the National Electoral Council of Venezuela (CNE) has yet to release the official records from the polling stations. Without verifiable evidence, the results published by the CNE on August 2 cannot be recognized," the EU stated in a press release.
The EU added that all efforts to delay the complete publication of the official voting records only cast further doubt on the credibility of the officially announced results.
Opposition records deemed credible
In contrast, the EU acknowledged the credibility of "copies of voting records published by the opposition and reviewed by several independent organizations," which indicate that "Edmundo González Urrutia appears to be the winner of the presidential elections by a significant majority."
Unlike the United States, which recognized González Urrutia as the president-elect through Secretary of State Anthony Blinken's statement last Thursday, the EU was more cautious and demanded independent verification of the electoral records "if possible by a reputable international entity."
Furthermore, European authorities urged that demonstrations and protests be conducted peacefully, with "calm and restraint," while calling on Venezuelan authorities, including security forces, to fully respect human rights and end "arbitrary detentions, repression, and violent rhetoric against opposition members," as well as to release political prisoners.
The EU warned that "Respecting the will of the Venezuelan people remains the only way for Venezuela to restore democracy and resolve the current humanitarian and socio-economic crisis."
Maduro Responds: "They are a disgrace"
In response, President Nicolás Maduro described the European Union (EU) and its High Representative for Foreign Affairs, Josep Borrell, as a "disgrace."
"The European Union brings out its old story, the same European Union that recognized (Juan) Guaidó. The European Union is a disgrace, Mr. Borrell is a disgrace, a disgrace who led Ukraine into a war and now washes his hands of it," the president said at an event with the Bolivarian National Guard.
Maduro criticized the EU's call for Venezuelan authorities to respect demonstrations, accusing the protests of not being peaceful: "Peaceful? When they attack the population, hospitals, Integrated Diagnostic Centers (CDI), schools, bus units, metro stations?" the president questioned.