The United Nations Human Rights Committee has issued a directive to Venezuela, urging the preservation of voting tallies from the contentious July presidential election that put Nicolás Maduro at odds with claims from the opposition.
The disputed election results in Venezuela have drawn international attention, with significant allegations of electoral fraud. The United Nations’ Human Rights Committee, an assembly of 18 independent experts, has taken a firm stance by ordering Venezuela to safeguard the voting tallies from this critical election. These tallies, which provide a detailed breakdown of votes from each polling station, are at the heart of the controversy surrounding the election outcome.
A key point of contention has been the announcement by Venezuela’s National Electoral Council (CNE), which is closely aligned with the government, declaring President Nicolás Maduro as the winner. However, it has not supported this declaration with the release of the necessary voting tallies. The opposition, on the other hand, managed to collect and publish over 80% of these records, claiming that their candidate, Edmundo González, was the true winner. Their data shows González leading with a significant 67% of the votes, contrasting sharply with Maduro’s declared 30%.
Independent observers and media outlets, including respected publications like the New York Times and CNN, have reviewed these opposition-released tallies and corroborate the claim that González emerged victorious. This independent verification adds weight to the opposition’s assertions and raises serious questions about the legitimacy of the election results declared by the CNE.
The stakes are high, as several nations including the United States, Italy, Argentina, and others have recognized González as the president-elect. Meanwhile, Maduro is proceeding with preparations to be sworn in for a third consecutive term on January 10th, dismissing the opposition’s tallies as fraudulent.
Adding complexity to the situation, the CNE has blamed a purported computer hack on election night for its inability to provide the voting data within the expected 30-day timeframe. Despite this, the opposition’s proactive steps in uploading the data have further fueled skepticism about the government’s narrative.
This situation is unprecedented in many ways, not least because of the UN Human Rights Committee’s involvement. The case, brought to them by an international law firm on behalf of a Venezuelan voter, is described as historic and could potentially lead to formal recognition that Maduro is not the legitimate president-elect.
The UN’s directive to preserve the contested voting tallies underscores the ongoing global scrutiny of Venezuela’s election process. As the January 10th inauguration approaches, the international community watches closely to see how these developments will unfold, bearing significant implications for Venezuela’s future leadership.
Source: BBC
