Maduro Promises to Honor Results of July 28 Election in Venezuela

Venezeula: Maduro Ready to Acknowledge Election Results, Opposition Remains Skeptical

Mexico City, Mexico, June 11, 2024 - Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has expressed his readiness to sign a pledge recognizing the results of the July 28 election, regardless of the outcome. He has urged the rest of the presidential candidates to do the same, voicing confidence in Venezuelan democracy and the electoral system.

Speaking on Monday during a television broadcast, Maduro, who is seeking re-election, emphasized the importance of peaceful political participation as the key to resolving political tensions in the strife-torn Caribbean country.

"We have been the promoters of dialogue, against the haters, for respect of the National Constitution," said Maduro before reiterating his call for wide-reaching dialogue with all sectors of Venezuelan society following the presidential vote on July 28.

Venezuela's electoral processes have been marred by post-election instability in the past, with the hardline opposition frequently labeling the results as "fraudulent" and resorting to violent protests to undermine the outcome. The country witnessed some of the worst violence following the 2013 presidential election, which Maduro narrowly won against Henrique Capriles.

Ranking Chavista Diosdado Cabello recently warned that US-backed opposition factions are again planning on rejecting the election outcome if it does not favor them. "The [right-wing opposition] conducts polls to show that an opposition candidate will win the presidential elections. Every time an election comes and we win, they claim fraud, but when they win, the electoral body does work," Cabello said in a press conference.

However, Maduro's rival Edmundo González, widely perceived as a stand-in candidate for far-right opposition leader María Corina Machado, has refused to sign any pledge, claiming that the government has violated past agreements. In a recent interview, González expressed his confidence that he would triumph in the election.

"We believe that it will be of such magnitude that the Government will have to think about that reality and open itself to a negotiation aimed at handing over power in a natural, simple way," González told 2001 Online.

The 74-year-old former diplomat was a surprise last-minute consensus choice for an opposition ravaged by infighting in recent years. While Machado won a controversial primary contest in October 2023 and vowed to continue "until the end," her political disqualification was upheld by the Venezuelan Supreme Court in January, ultimately leading to her endorsement of González.

Machado has largely carried out political rallies on her own, often with a poster of the opposition's candidate, while González has stuck to interviews and small-scale gatherings.

Opinion polling has been historically unreliable in Venezuela, with some firms showing widespread support for González, while others showing majority support for Maduro. In a recent twist, the opposition presidential candidate extended an invitation to senators from Spain to witness the election, following Venezuela's National Electoral Council's (CNE) decision to withdraw its invitation for the European Union (EU) to send an observation mission to the upcoming presidential elections.

Edited by Ricardo Vaz in Caracas.

In the broader context, Venezuela's 2024 elections and their aftermath remain mired in controversy, with significant impacts on political stability and democratic processes. The July 2024 presidential election, widely disputed due to allegations of fraud and repression, has further entrenched Maduro's authoritarian grip while deepening domestic and international crises. The government's refusal to address electoral grievances has left Venezuela in a cycle of repression and institutional collapse. (Source: Human Rights Watch, UN, Inter-American Affairs Commission of the Senate of Spain)

Edmundo González, the opponent of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, has shown confidence in winning the upcoming election, but has refused to sign a pledge acknowledging the election results.
Historically, Venezuelan elections have been marred by post-election instability, with the hardline opposition frequently labeling the results as "fraudulent" and resorting to violent protests.
In a press conference, ranking Chavista Diosdado Cabello warned that US-backed opposition factions are planning to reject the election outcome if it does not favor them, similar to past elections where accusations of fraud were made despite the government's victory.
Amidst political tensions, Maduro has expressed his commitment to peaceful political participation and a wide-reaching dialogue with all sectors of Venezuelan society following the presidential vote.
The 2024 Venezuelan elections have sparked controversy both domestically and internationally, with human rights organizations highlighting the potential impacts on political stability and democratic processes due to allegations of fraud and repression.