The European Union (EU) demanded that the Venezuelan government publish the electoral records with the results of the polling stations, saying that without this it cannot recognize Nicolás Maduro’s supposed victory. The joint statement from the 27 came on Sunday night, one day after seven European countries, one of which was Portugal, made the same demand. Despite the pressure, the minutes do not appear and this Monday opposition leaders asked the Venezuelan military to “stand alongside the people”.
“We appeal to the conscience of the military and police to stand alongside the people and their own families,” said Edmundo González Urruria and María Corina Machado in a letter, in which they called for an end to the “repression” of opposition protests and offer “guarantees to those who fulfill their constitutional duty” in a possible “new government”.
The appeal comes after the EU’s demand from Caracas. “Without evidence to support it, the results published on August 2 by the National Electoral Council (CNE) cannot be recognized,” he indicated, referring to Maduro’s declaration of victory with 52% of the votes. This Monday, the deadline given to the CNE by the Supreme Court (who Maduro asked to “certify” the elections and which he also controls) for publishing the minutes ended.
“Copies of the electoral records published by the opposition and reviewed by several independent organizations indicate that Edmundo González Urrutia appears to be the winner of the presidential elections by a significant majority”, they add, calling for an end to “arbitrary detentions, repression and violent rhetoric against the opposition and civil society”.
