Leaders across the Americas reacted to Venezuela's electoral authority's announcement on Monday that President Nicolas Maduro had won a third term in office, despite several exit polls indicating an opposition win. The announcement sparked a mix of condemnation and support, with several countries questioning the election's transparency and legitimacy.
Leaders across the Americas reacted to Venezuela's electoral authority's announcement just after midnight on Monday that President Nicolas Maduro has won a third term in office, despite multiple exit polls which pointed to an opposition win.
US expresses 'serious concerns'
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the United States has "serious concerns" about the announced result of Venezuela’s hotly contested presidential election that authorities say was won by Maduro.
Speaking in Tokyo on Monday shortly after the announcement was made, Blinken said the US was concerned that the result reflected neither the will nor the votes of the Venezuelan people. He called for election officials to publish the full results transparently and immediately and said the US and the international community would respond accordingly.
“We have seen the announcement just a short while ago by the Venezuelan Electoral Commission," he said. "We have serious concerns that the result announced does not reflect the will or the votes of the Venezuelan people.”
“It’s critical that every vote be counted fairly and transparently that the electoral authorities immediately share information with the opposition and independent observers without delay and that the electoral authorities publish the tabulation of votes. The international community is watching this very closely and will respond accordingly," Blinken said.
Nine countries call for OAS meeting
Nine Latin American governments will call for an emergency meeting of the Organization of American States (OAS) permanent council, according to a joint statement published on Monday.
The governments of Argentina, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Guatemala, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, and Uruguay express "profound concern" over Sunday's election, according to the statement.
Ecuador's President Daniel Noboa, who called for the OAS meeting to discuss the "delicate situation" in Venezuela in a post on X, also said: "Throughout the region, there are politicians who try to cling to power and who intend to snatch peace from our citizens," he said, warning of "the danger of dictatorship".
Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said in a press conference he would wait until 100 percent of the results of Venezuela's election were reported before recognising a winner.
The Brazilian government on Monday called for the "impartial verification" of Venezuela's election results.
Brasilia "reaffirms the fundamental principle of popular sovereignty, which must be respected through the impartial verification of the results", the foreign ministry said in a statement.
Brazil's government also hailed what it called a "peaceful" election day in Venezuela and said it was closely monitoring the vote count.
Peru announced it had recalled its ambassador to Venezuela for consultation over the election results.
"I condemn in all extremity the sum of irregularities with the intention of fraud committed by the Venezuelan government. Peru will not accept the violation of the popular will of the Venezuelan people," Peruvian Foreign Minister Javier Gonzalez-Olaechea posted on X.
"The Peruvian ambassador to the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela has been immediately recalled for consultations."
Similarly, Argentina strongly disputed Maduro's win.
"DICTATOR MADURO, OUT! Venezuelans chose to end the communist dictatorship of Nicolás Maduro," Argentine President Javier Milei asserted on X.
"The data announce a landslide victory for the opposition and the world is waiting for them to recognise their defeat after years of socialism, misery, decadence and death. Argentina will not recognise another fraud, and expects the Armed Forces this time to defend democracy and the will of the people."
Chile said it would "not recognise any result that is not verifiable."
"Maduro's regime must understand that the results are hard to believe. The international community and especially the Venezuelan people, including the millions of Venezuelans in exile, demand total transparency," Chile President Gabriel Boric said on X.
EU urges 'full transparency' in vote count
EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell called on Venezuela to ensure "full transparency in the electoral process".
"The people of Venezuela voted on the future of their country peacefully and in large numbers. Their will must be respected. Ensuring full transparency in the electoral process, including detailed counting of votes and access to voting records at polling stations, is vital," Borrell said in a post on X.
China and Russia congratulate Maduro
Both China and Russia congratulated Maduro on his re-election.
"China stands ready to enrich our all-weather strategic partnership and better benefit the peoples of both countries," foreign ministry spokesman Lin Jian told a regular briefing.
"Russian-Venezuelan relations have the character of a strategic partnership. I am confident that your work at the head of state will continue to contribute to their progressive development in all areas ... Remember that you are always welcome on Russian soil," Putin said, according to the Kremlin.
Cuba, Honduras and Bolivia took to social media to congratulate Maduro on his victory.
"Nicolas Maduro, my brother, your victory, which is that of the Bolivarian and Chavista people, has cleanly and unequivocally defeated the pro-imperialist opposition. They also defeated the regional, interventionist and Monroist right," Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel said on X.
"The people spoke and the Revolution won."
Former president Raul Castro spoke with Maduro over the phone to congratulate him, Diaz-Canel's office said.
"Our special congratulations and Democratic, Socialist and Revolutionary greetings to the President Nicolas Maduro and the brave people of Venezuela for their unobjectionable triumph, which reaffirms their sovereignty and the historical legacy of the Commander Hugo Chavez," Honduran President Xiomara Castro posted on X.
"We have closely followed this democratic festival and we welcome the fact that the will of the Venezuelan people at the polls has been respected," Bolivian President Luis Arce said on X.
"We want to ratify our willingness to continue strengthening our ties of friendship, cooperation and solidarity with the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela."
(FRANCE 24 with Reuters, AFP)
