By Leonardo Flores
The State Department published a statement designed to exacerbate the situation in Venezuela. The following are excerpts of the statement followed by responses:
State Department: The United States applauds the Venezuelan people for their participation in the July 28 presidential election despite significant challenges. At least 12 million Venezuelans peacefully went to the polls and exercised one of the most powerful rights given to people in any democracy: the right to vote. Unfortunately, the processing of those votes and the announcement of results by the Maduro-controlled National Electoral Council (CNE) were deeply flawed, yielding an announced outcome that does not represent the will of the Venezuelan people.
The CNE was hit by a massive cyberattack the night of the elections. The only ones interested in carrying out such an attack are the ones who have been physically destroying CNE material, equipment, warehouses and buildings since at least 2012: Venezuelan fascists trained, financed and supported by the United States.
The CNE is an independent branch of government led by a council of five. The makeup of the council is determined by the President and National Assembly. As a result of negotiations, two of the five council seats are held by the opposition.
The State Department’s displeasure with the election’s outcome has no bearing on the will of the Venezuelan people. A country with an electoral college has no business lecturing about whether another’s country’s elections represent the will of its people.
State Department: The CNE’s rapid declaration of Nicolás Maduro as the winner of the presidential election came with no supporting evidence. The CNE still has not published disaggregated data or any of the vote tally sheets, despite repeated calls from Venezuelans and the international community to do so. As the independent Carter Center’s observation mission reported, the CNE’s failure to provide the precinct-level official results, as well as irregularities throughout the process, have stripped the CNE’s announced outcome of any credibility.
Meanwhile, the democratic opposition has published more than 80 percent of the tally sheets received directly from polling stations throughout Venezuela. Those tally sheets indicate that Edmundo González Urrutia received the most votes in this election by an insurmountable margin. Independent observers have corroborated these facts, and this outcome was also supported by election day exit polls and quick counts. In the days since the election, we have consulted widely with partners and allies around the world, and while countries have taken different approaches in responding, none have concluded that Nicolás Maduro received the most votes this election.
The CNE’s first report on the results came later than expected. What was rapid was the incredibly sophisticated operation to steal the elections with fake polls, fake news, fake outrage – and very real violence on the streets.
President Maduro appealed to the Supreme Court (TSJ) to audit the elections and verify the results. Precinct level official results are in no danger – every political party has their own copies of the tally sheets printed by each voting machine.
There is no possible way for an independent observer to “corroborate” the tally sheets presented by one candidate as “facts.” The only way to verify a tally sheet from one party is to compare them to official results or the tally sheets of other parties.
The whole point of a digital vote backed up by paper receipts is that the tally sheets, precinct level results and nation-wide results must always add up. In the many elections since the CNE installed this system, there has never been credible evidence of a discrepancy in these figures.
There is no “quick count” in a digital vote, exit polls are against the law in Venezuela and the firms whose exit polls the State Department alludes to would not exist without the contracts they get from U.S. government agencies.
The only country that can conclude who received the most votes is Venezuela. U.S. politicians are already threatening countries that do not fall in line.
State Department: Given the overwhelming evidence, it is clear to the United States and, most importantly, to the Venezuelan people that Edmundo González Urrutia won the most votes in Venezuela’s July 28 presidential election.
Claiming to win an election is not winning an election. U.S. Democrats should be familiar with that concept.
State Department: In addition, the United States rejects Maduro’s unsubstantiated allegations against opposition leaders. Maduro and his representatives’ threats to arrest opposition leaders, including Edmundo González and María Corina Machado, are an undemocratic attempt to repress political participation and retain power. The safety and security of the democratic opposition leaders and members must be protected. All Venezuelans arrested while peacefully exercising their right to participate in the electoral process or demand transparency in the tabulation and announcement of results should be released immediately. Law enforcement and security forces should not become an instrument of political violence used against citizens exercising their democratic rights.
Edmundo González and María Corina Machado are engaging in a blatant attempt to steal the election through international pressure and a media campaign. The Venezuelan government has a responsibility to investigate the cyberattack and post-electoral violence.
In two days, far-right thugs in Venezuela caused more violence to random bystanders, community leaders, journalists, police, military and people who merely look like they may support the other side – not to mention damage to businesses, buildings, media outlets, social services, mass transit, cars, institutions and public art – than has occurred in 300 days of protests by Palestine solidarity activists in the U.S.
A country that continues arresting, beating and pepper-spraying peaceful demonstrators for wanting to end a genocide is not in a position to admonish any other. Ignoring the right-wing violence is equivalent to supporting it. Mischaracterizing it as peaceful protest is spitting on the graves of victims.
State Department: We congratulate Edmundo González Urrutia on his successful campaign. Now is the time for the Venezuelan parties to begin discussions on a respectful, peaceful transition in accordance with Venezuelan electoral law and the wishes of the Venezuelan people. We fully support the process of re-establishing democratic norms in Venezuela and stand ready to consider ways to bolster it jointly with our international partners.
The Venezuelan people have had enough threats from the State Department. They have withstood ten years of economic warfare, multiple coup attempts, violence and sabotage and they will withstand this latest maneuver. The last thing Venezuelans want is a civil war, no matter how desperate the United States is to cause one.
Leonardo Flores is a Venezuelan political analyst, activist and founding member of the Venezuela Solidarity Network.