Canada has condemned Venezuela for not releasing the results of the July election after the opposition candidate was forced to flee the country. Canada stated that the results suggest that the opposition party emerged victorious.
Following a presidential election on July 28, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his opposition rival Edmundo Gonzalez both claimed victory. While Maduro has been officially declared the winner with 52 percent of the vote compared to Gonzalez’s 43 percent, several countries including the United States, Chile, Peru, Italy, and Canada have raised concerns about the credibility of the results. On the other hand, countries like China, Russia, and Cuba have congratulated Maduro on his win.
Despite Maduro being declared the winner, the electoral council has not provided evidence of the results. An analysis by the Associated Press of the tally sheets released by the opposition revealed that Gonzalez received significantly more votes than what the government reported.
Canadian Minister Joly expressed disappointment in the Venezuelan National Electoral Commission for not disclosing the official results despite calls from many countries to do so. Canada is also troubled by Gonzalez’s forced exile from the country.
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Joly also criticized the Venezuelan government for revoking the protected status of the Argentine embassy in Caracas, where some team members of opposition leader María Corina Machado are currently staying. Machado was previously disqualified from running in the election under false pretenses, according to Joly.
She emphasized the urgent need for a conducive environment in Venezuela where democratic participation can thrive without the fear of retaliation.
Since the election, numerous protests have erupted in Venezuela to challenge the results, resulting in security forces using tear gas and rubber bullets and making numerous arrests. Joly unequivocally denounced the escalating repression in the country, which has led to numerous deaths and over 2,000 arbitrary detentions.
