Dom Carlos Matsinhe on Venezuela's fraudulent elections: "We learned many lessons"
The Venezuelan electoral commission declared Nicolás Maduro the winner of last Sunday’s election, a process marked by protests and widespread condemnation of its fraudulent practices. The United States accused Venezuela of electoral manipulation and is considering sanctions, but, surprisingly, Dom Carlos Matsinhe stated that he learned many lessons during the process in that country.
Dom Carlos Matsinhe, President of the National Election Commission (CNE), said that the observation mission he led in Venezuela learned many lessons from the electoral process over the days of their work, despite local observers describing the election as fraudulent.
Even with the protests that erupted against Nicolás Maduro's re-election, Matsinhe noted that the political parties' competition was not based on hostility, insults, or threats, but rather on presenting their convictions and ideological lines, respecting their laws and collective dignity.
"In short, there are many but simple lessons we recorded during our few days of observation," read a note from the CNE.
After the election, Venezuela cut ties with several countries, including Argentina, accusing them of attempting to interfere in the elections. The local CNE claimed it had been attacked during the vote count.
Following the protests against Maduro's announced victory by the local electoral commission, Spanish media reported at least seven young people killed. Nicolás Maduro admitted there were "dozens of detentions" for "criminal and terrorist" actions, blaming the opposition.
Amid the protests, opposition presidential candidate Edmundo González announced his campaign had the necessary evidence to prove his victory. González and opposition leader Maria Corina Machado claimed to have access to 70% of the ballots and asserted that González had more than twice the votes of Maduro.
Protesters also toppled a statue representing the late President Hugo Chávez, Maduro’s mentor. The Venezuelan Observatory of Conflicts reported 187 protests across 20 states.
Local electoral body information indicated that Maduro won the election with 51.2% of the vote, compared to Edmundo González’s 44.2%, the second-highest tally.
