In a pointed message on social media tonight, Florida Senator Marco Rubio rejected the results of the Venezuelan elections held Sunday that, according to the government-controlled Centro Nacional Electoral (CNE), gave a new triumph to the current president, Nicolás Maduro.
Hours before, Rubio had sounded the alarm about potential fraud in today's Venezuelan elections. Rubio, a longstanding advocate for Venezuelan democracy, emphasized the high stakes of the election and expressed concerns over the legitimacy of the process under the current regime.
His warning underscored the critical nature of this election, which saw Venezuelans choosing their president for the 2025–2031 term. Although 10 candidates were on the ballot, the race was primarily between Nicolás Maduro, the incumbent leader of the Chavismo movement that has dominated Venezuela for the past 25 years, and Edmundo González Urrutia, representing a coalition of opposition parties.
Venezuela's government-friendly electoral council announced early on Monday that Nicolás Maduro was the winner of the presidential elections. Speaking in Caracas, Elvis Amoroso said that, with 80% of the votes tallied, Maduro got 51.2% of the vote, beating the opposition's Edmundo González Urrutia, who got 44%.Turnout was 59%, he added.
Marco Rubio's reaction
"The Maduro regime in Venezuela has just carried the most predictable and ridiculous sham election in modern history," wrote Marco Rubio on X (Twitter.)
El régimen de Maduro acaba de llevar a cabo las elecciones farsa más predecibles y ridículas de la historia moderna
— Marco Rubio (@marcorubio) July 29, 2024
The Maduro regime in #Venezuela has just carried out the most predictable and ridiculous sham election in modern history
The Cuban American Senator's remarks are especially significant given Florida's status as the state with the largest Venezuelan population in the United States. According to recent estimates, over 250,000 Venezuelans reside in Florida, with a significant concentration in South Florida, making it one of the largest Venezuelan expatriate communities in the world. According to the United Nations, there are around 8 million Venezuelan refugees around the world.
This demographic reality lends weight to Rubio's comments and the broader international attention to Sunday's crucial election.
Hours before, he had said:
"Everybody knows a massive voter turnout like the one today in Venezuela would result in a massive loss for Maduro. The ONLY way he wins is with massive fraud," Rubio stated in social media.
Todo el mundo sabe que la participación masiva de los votantes como la que se ve hoy en #Venezuela resultaría en una gran derrota por parte de Maduro. La ÚNICA forma en que gana es si intentan llevar a cabo un fraude masivo.
— Marco Rubio (@marcorubio) July 29, 2024
Everybody knows massive voter turnout like the one…
Favoring the opposition in Venezuela
Last week, Rubio issued a statement highlighting the bravery and determination of the Venezuelan opposition in the face of oppressive conditions. He praised opposition leaders María Corina Machado and Edmundo González for their perseverance amid severe repression and censorship.
"The tenacity and courage of the Venezuelan people will be on full display this upcoming Sunday as they aim to cast a vote for a future free of tyranny. Opposition leaders María Corina Machado and Edmundo González have valiantly led a campaign amid waves of repression, censorship, and attacks," Rubio said. He emphasized that a legitimate election would likely result in an opposition victory, reflecting the widespread discontent with Maduro's regime.
Rubio also directed his message to the Venezuelan authorities, including the National Electoral Council (CNE), the military, and the colectivos, warning them that the world is closely watching their actions. "The U.S. and its democratic partners must make it clear that they will swiftly respond if this election is unjust and undermined," he asserted.
As the night progresses and the world waits for the results, Rubio's statements highlight the significant international and domestic interest in the outcome of Venezuela's election. The potential for fraud and the implications for Venezuela's future governance remain at the forefront of discussions among political analysts and international observers.
The opposition had been anticipating the chance that the government would conduct a fraudulent process, saying they had stopped receiving vote certificates. Moreover, Edison Research, which performs exit polling at major American elections, published figures showing that Edmundo González had a 64% to 31% lead over Maduro. According to Juan Forero, the Wall Street Journal bureau chief for South America, Edison polled 6465 Venezuelan voters across 100 polling stations.
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