Venezuela’s socialist Maduro regime has severed diplomatic ties with seven Latin American countries after the government questioned the results of Sunday’s fake presidential election and the “victory” of dictator Nicolas Maduro.
The decision forces the immediate withdrawal of diplomatic representatives of Argentina, Chile, Costa Rica, Peru, Panama, the Dominican Republic and Uruguay from Venezuelan territory.
Venezuela’s electoral authorities are fully controlled by the socialist regime and refer to Maduro as “winnerPresident Trump claimed Sunday that he won “51.2% of the vote” in the sham election.
Venezuela’s opposition is disputing the election results and claims to have evidence that their candidate, Edmundo Gonzalez, won a landslide victory over the dictator. Not only are there widespread allegations that election officials manipulated the numbers, but Maduro personally handpicked the candidates on the ballot so that his face appeared 13 times. Opposition members have also complained of violence against election workers and the illegal arrest of several dissidents, making the elections far from free and fair.
Several Country The election results have been called into question: the United States, Britain, Colombia and the European Union have called for a transparent recount, while countries including Argentina, Chile, El Salvador and Ecuador have not recognised Maduro’s “victory” as legitimate.
In Venezuela’s last sham election, held shortly after the election was called, the Maduro regime has not, as of writing, released detailed records showing the breakdown of the election “results” by polling station in each state.
President Nicolas Maduro holds out his arms with first lady Cilia Flores during his final campaign rally in Caracas, Venezuela, Thursday, July 25, 2024. Maduro is seeking re-election to a third term in the July 28 vote. (Photo by The Associated Press/Fernando Vergara)
The ruling Socialists also Claimed Venezuela’s electoral system has allowed them to repeatedly Celebrated Russian presidential candidate Machado, dubbed “the best in the world,” was the target of a hacking attack that reportedly originated from North Macedonia and blamed on opposition leader Maria Corina Machado and other dissidents. Machado was the front-runner for the presidential election for much of the campaign but was banned from running.
The Maduro regime has not released any evidence to support the accusations against Machado, and at time of writing had not released any details about the alleged hacking attack from North Macedonia.
The seven countries with which Venezuela has severed diplomatic relations are: Signed In a joint letter on Monday, the two expressed concern over election fraud in Venezuela and called for a “full review” of the results.
The nine countries also called for an emergency meeting of the Organization of American States (OAS) to address the situation. to withdraw It left the OAS in 2017.
The Maduro government responded to the letter: statement On Monday afternoon, the party rejected what it called “an interference by a group of right-wing regimes subservient to Washington and openly espousing the most vile ideological precepts of international fascism” that, according to the socialist regime, “seeks to ignore the false election results and Maduro’s ‘victory’.”
The statement also included Chile and Peru, both of which are led by leftist presidents. In Chile, President Gabriel Boric (who has not been accused of being part of a “right-wing” conspiracy) was once Explained He describes himself as “left of the Communist Party.”
“The Bolivarian Government stands against any action that runs counter to the atmosphere of peace and coexistence that the Venezuelan people have so often sought,” the Maduro government’s statement concluded. “Therefore, it opposes any intervention or declaration of siege that seeks to defy the will of the Venezuelan people.”
The Maduro government’s decision to sever ties with seven Latin American countries has complicated the situation, especially at the Argentine embassy in Caracas, where six Venezuelan opposition figures remain. protected From the authoritarian crackdown since March.
The Maduro government Accused The six dissidents are accused of being part of an unproven assassination plot against Maduro and other members of his regime. Rejected Six dissidents are allowed safe passage from Venezuela to Argentina.
Argentine news channel Todo Noticias report Argentina’s foreign ministry said on Monday that the government of President Javier Milley was negotiating with other countries to ensure the safety of the six dissidents following the withdrawal of the diplomatic mission.
According to Todo Noticias, one of the options under consideration involves the 1954 Caracas Treaty on Diplomatic Asylum, which allows member states of the Organization of American States (OAS) to accept asylum seekers from other member states as their official representatives, with Brazil being identified as a leading candidate to accept Venezuelan dissidents.
Chile’s far-left President Gabriel Boric Responded He took to social media to criticize the Maduro regime’s claims of expelling its diplomats from Venezuela, calling them “implausible” and showing a “deep intolerance of dissent.”
“All we’ve done in this case is stand up for what we believe is right – that the results of the election be transparent through full disclosure of the transcripts and verifiable by auditors not tied to the current administration,” Bolick said. “As of this writing, that has not happened.”
“Respect for the sovereignty of the Venezuelan people and the consequences of the forced expulsion of a significant part of their population are exactly why we demand transparency,” he continued. “No subservience, no calculation. It’s a matter of principle.”
Recently inaugurated President of Panama, José Raul Mulino, has already said that his country Hanging The United States suspended diplomatic relations with Venezuela before the Maduro government’s announcement, and Mulino said the suspension will remain in place until the results of the fake election are verified.
“I have taken this decision out of respect for the history of Panama, the millions of Venezuelans who have chosen to live in our homeland, and my democratic beliefs,” Mulino said. “I will not allow silence to become complicity.”
Similarly, the Peruvian government also made an official announcement. statement Diplomats in Caracas are scheduled to leave Venezuela within the next 72 hours.
Dominican Republic President Luis Abinader Reportedly Venezuela’s foreign minister said diplomats would be withdrawn from the country and that the government would continue to assess the situation and “take appropriate measures.” Abinader reiterated his calls for international verification of the fake election results.
Uruguayan government sources Said AFP said the Maduro government’s decision was premature and unjustified “in the face of the legitimate concerns raised by Uruguay about its electoral process.” The source noted that the Uruguayan government will decide in the next few hours what to do with its diplomats in Caracas.
A Costa Rican foreign ministry source told AFP that the country has no diplomatic representation in Venezuela so the Maduro government’s announcement would have “no real effect”.
Christian K. Caruso is a Venezuelan author documenting life under socialism. You can follow him on Twitter. here.
