Venezuela Roundup: Electoral fraud, Venezuela accuses EU, no Evidence that Maduro won
Electoral fraud
Uruguayan President Luis Lacalle Pou is set to address the United Nations General Assembly, focusing on the electoral fraud in Venezuela. He criticized the Maduro regime for lacking the will to count votes and described it as repressive. Lacalle emphasized the need for international pressure on Venezuela, agreeing with opposition leader María Corina Machado that repeating elections is unacceptable, Merco Press reported. He also defended new legislation allowing involuntary hospitalization of street dwellers struggling with addiction and mental health issues, calling it a necessary measure.
Venezuela accuses EU
The Venezuelan government has accused the European Union of backing a "fascist coup" after EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell expressed "extreme concern" over the country's post-election crisis. According to Nova News, Venezuela's Foreign Minister Yvan Gil criticized Borrell's statements as interventionist and indicative of support for opposition leader Juan Guaido. The EU's concerns follow a Supreme Court ruling affirming Nicolas Maduro's election victory, amid a UN report questioning the legitimacy of the election process.
Police arrest journalist and son
Venezuelan police arrested journalist Carmela Longo and her son in Caracas amid ongoing unrest following President Nicolas Maduro's disputed reelection. The National Union of Press Workers (SNTP) reported that authorities raided Longo's home, seizing computer equipment. This incident marks the seventh arrest of a journalist since the July 28 election, which the opposition claims they won despite the National Electoral Council declaring Maduro the victor without providing supporting data, The Barron's Daily reported.
No Evidence that Maduro won
A top Venezuelan election official, Juan Carlos Delpino, has publicly expressed doubts regarding President Nicolás Maduro's claimed victory in the recent election, stating he has seen no evidence to support it. His remarks, made in an interview with The New York Times, mark a significant criticism within the electoral system since the July 28 vote. Delpino, aligned with the opposition, emphasized that the electoral body failed the nation by declaring Maduro the winner without evidence, and he urged forgiveness from the Venezuelan people for the botched electoral process.
EU rejects Maduro's victory
The European Union has rejected Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro's election victory, stating he has not provided sufficient evidence to support his claims. EU diplomat Josep Borrell emphasized that only independently verifiable results will be accepted, echoing calls from Brazilian and Colombian leaders for the release of official election tallies. According to Shropshire Star, Maduro's government dismissed the EU's statements as interventionist. The opposition alleges that Maduro attempted to manipulate the vote, asserting that their collected data shows a significant loss for him.
