RedLad observes with deeply concern the development of the presidential elections held on July 28th, 2024, in Venezuela, a crucial electoral day in which Nicolás Maduro, the current president and official candidate, faced off against Edmundo González, supported by opposition leader María Corina Machado, who had been disqualified from participating in the electoral process. 

RedLad believes that for a transparent electoral day, the appropriate presence of electoral observers and journalists, both national and international, as well as international bodies such as the UN, CIDH, OAS, and parliamentarians from other continents, should have been allowed without significant obstacles. The government’s actions to prevent the participation of several international observers by denying their entry, visas, or guarantees create a scenario of doubt. 

Civil society organizations have reported alleged repressions against citizens, electoral observers, and journalists, as well as anomalies denounced by different organizations, raising concerns about the transparency and legitimacy of the process. This is evidenced by situations such as the barring of entry into the country for a group of former presidents who were to accompany the process, the denial of visas and/or prohibition of entry for international observers, the expulsion from Venezuela of a commission comprising 10 members of the European Union (European Parliament, Spanish Congress, and Senate), while observers aligned with the regime were widely admitted. Additionally, in the facilities of the National Electoral Council (CNE) and in some locations, the vote counting was carried out without allowing the presence of political opposition electoral witnesses, as mandated by law, who were forced to leave the premises. Furthermore, after the announcement of the results by the CNE, President Maduro claimed that the system had been hacked, and yet, the CNE hastily declared Nicolás Maduro the winner of the elections, while the Prosecutor Saab opened an investigation against María Corina Machado as responsible for the supposed cyber attack, without any evidence of the act. 

Some of the alarming irregularities observed during the electoral process are detailed below: 

● The exit polls and previous surveys conducted by various organizations showed a significant lead for candidate González. However, around midnight, the CNE of Venezuela declared Nicolás Maduro the winner with 51%, against 44% for González.

● Attacks on Freedom of Expression: Harassment and threats to journalists and independent media were reported by the Institute for Press and Society of Venezuela (IPYS Venezuela) in at least 14 states, including Caracas, Trujillo, and Bolívar.

● Arbitrary Detentions: Confirmed by the National Union of Press Workers (SNTP), which also reported the inability of accredited journalists to cover the elections.

● Human Rights Violations: Documented by organizations such as Espacio Público and Provea, including 15 cases of violations of the right to freedom of expression, four detentions, and a web blockade. 

● Intimidating Presence of Security Forces: Denounced at polling centers, where the absence of Plan República officers and the presence of armed groups identified with the government were observed. 

● PSUV Control Points: Located near polling stations, particularly in various municipalities of Caracas, contravening electoral norms. 

● Obstruction of Electoral Observers: Arbitrary expulsion of opposition witnesses from some centers was reported. 

These actions restrict citizen participation, limit freedom of expression, and create an environment of anxiety and repression. In a context of political polarization and humanitarian crisis, it is crucial for electoral processes to be conducted with full guarantees of citizen participation, respect for human rights, and transparency. 

Representatives of governments and civil society organizations following the process have expressed concerns about its transparency, such as the Carter Center; they demand transparency as soon as possible with the release of the CNE’s records to provide greater clarity to the process, which saw a large and determined peaceful participation by Venezuelans. Similarly, the UN Secretary-General congratulated the Venezuelan people for their determination to express their will peacefully through the polls and called for complete transparency, encouraging the timely publication of electoral results and their breakdown by polling stations. 

Governments from countries such as Germany, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Guatemala, El Salvador, Ecuador, Spain, the United States, Italy, the Netherlands, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Portugal, Uruguay and other countries of the European Union, advocate for transparency and vote recounting. RedLad recognizes and appreciates their statements, as well as their support and solidarity with the brave Venezuelan people. We also invite other democratic countries to speak out in favor of transparency and full democracy. 

RedLad firmly states that: 

● Transparency must prevail, requiring a process of verification, vote counting, and electoral records with international oversight to ensure respect for the popular will expressed during the electoral day.

● We invite the international community to express their solidarity and support for the Venezuelans; we particularly urge the UN and OAS to continue developing concrete public actions that promote full democracy in the region. 

● We emphasize that the Venezuelan government has remained in power for 25 years, leading the country and its people into an unprecedented crisis, causing the migration of nearly 8 million citizens who make up the international “Venezuelan diaspora.” 

● We urge the protection of the civilian population, ensuring their care and protection in all aspects of life. We also demand safeguarding the lives and integrity of opposition leaders, particularly María Corina Machado and Edmundo González, but considering all members of their teams. 

● We strongly call for reconciliation, peace, and above all, respect for the people’s will and defense of sovereignty, stressing that actions against the voting and election of Venezuelans are attacks on democracy and freedoms throughout the region. The principle of self-determination of peoples must prevail in any electoral process. 

● It is essential to respect and allow the peaceful expressions and mobilizations of the Venezuelan population and citizens, without repression or criminalization of protest; this is a basic principle, especially in the current situation the country is facing. 

Finally, as Secretariat of the Civil Society Pillar Secretariat of the Community of Democracies, RedLad reaffirms its commitment to peace, security, life, and full democracy, as defined in the 19 principles of the Warsaw Declaration, and the principle of freedom enshrined in the Inter-American Democratic Charter. At this crucial moment, we call on all parties to work together in building a democratic and peaceful future for Venezuela, where human dignity is respected, and fundamental rights are guaranteed. 

RedLad and its initiatives, Citizen Forum of the Americas (FCA) and Citizen Observatory against Corruption (OCC), advocate for peace, fraternity of the Venezuelan people, who massively turned out to vote in the exercise of their right and duty to free suffrage, a right flouted by the authoritarian regime, also ignoring the Bolivarian ideal for the republican system of government and the union of peoples. Now more than ever, Venezuela and its noble people need effective solidarity from the international community. 

Monday, July 29, 2024 

Enrique A. de Obarrio 

President of the Latin American and Caribbean Network for Democracy – RedLad, and on behalf of the RedLad Coordinating Council. 

Chair of the Civil Society Pillar, Community of Democracies.