EU rejects Venezuelan election results, calls for independent verification

The European Union has announced that it does not recognize the official results of Venezuela's presidential election and is following the situation in the country with significant concern.

According to international election observation missions, the presidential elections held on July 28 did not meet international standards for electoral integrity, Caliber.Az reports, citing the European Council press service.

The EU criticized the Venezuelan National Electoral Council (CNE) for failing to publish the official voting records (“actas”) from polling stations, making it impossible to verify the authenticity of the results released on August 2. The EU warned that any further delay in the publication of these records could further undermine the credibility of the results.

Reports from opposition sources and independent organizations suggest that Edmundo González Urrutia may have won the election by a substantial margin. The EU has called for an independent verification of the electoral records, preferably by a reputable international body.

In light of the current unrest, the EU has urged for peaceful demonstrations and protests, emphasizing the need for calm and restraint. The EU stressed that Venezuelan authorities, including security forces, must fully respect human rights, including freedom of expression and assembly.

The EU also expressed serious concern over the increasing number of arbitrary detentions and harassment of opposition members. It called for an end to arbitrary detentions, repression, and violent rhetoric against the opposition and civil society, and demanded the release of all political prisoners.

The EU applauded the efforts of regional partners working towards dialogue and a negotiated solution to the crisis, emphasizing that respecting the will of the Venezuelan people is crucial for restoring democracy and addressing the country’s humanitarian and socio-economic challenges.