Global Leaders Unite Against Venezuelan Election Results

Leaders of foreign affairs committees from the U.S. Congress and European legislatures have condemned the Venezuelan government’s handling of the recent disputed election. They urge President Nicolas Maduro to release full vote tallies, allow for transparent verification, end protest repression, and start negotiations with opposition leaders.

In an unprecedented show of unity, leaders of foreign affairs committees from the U.S. Congress and European legislatures have jointly condemned the Venezuelan government’s handling of last weekend’s disputed election, as stated in a document seen by Reuters.

Senator Ben Cardin, chair of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee, led the collective effort to press Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. “Our governments are closely monitoring Venezuela, and we will work together to hold Maduro accountable if he continues to disregard the democratic will of Venezuelan voters to steal yet another election,” said the statement.

By early Friday, representatives from Armenia, Moldova, Latvia, Italy, Poland, Lithuania, Germany, Estonia, Finland, Ireland, Denmark, and Romania had endorsed the statement. Venezuela's electoral council declared Maduro the winner with 51% of the vote, sparking fraud accusations. Opponents claim their candidate, Edmundo Gonzalez, had double the support. The statement calls for transparent verification of results, an end to protest repression, and negotiations with opposition leaders.