Venezuela’s Top Election Official Speaks Out Against Fraudulent Election Results
A Blow to the Credibility of the Venezuelan Election
One of Venezuela’s top election officials, in a declaration sure to jolt the crisis-weary nation, said in an interview that he had no proof that Venezuela’s authoritarian president won last month’s election.
A Lack of Evidence
Speaking on the record to a reporter for the first time since the vote, Mr. Delpino said he "had not received any evidence" that Mr. Maduro actually won a majority of the vote.
Opposition’s Claims
Neither the electoral body nor Mr. Maduro has released tallies to support assertions that the president won re-election, while the opposition has published receipts from thousands of voting machines that show its candidate, Edmundo González, won an overwhelming majority.
Delpino’s Criticism
In declaring Mr. Maduro the winner without evidence, the country’s election body "failed the country," Mr. Delpino said. "I am ashamed, and I ask the Venezuelan people for forgiveness. Because the entire plan that was woven — to hold elections accepted by all — was not achieved."
Background on the Election
The National Electoral Council, known in Venezuela as the C.N.E., is the five-member body charged with deciding the framework of elections, as well as receiving and announcing results. These duties make it enormously powerful.
When the country’s legislature selected Mr. Delpino as a member of the council last August, many in Venezuela saw it as an attempt to give it a veneer of balance and legitimacy.
Irregularities
Mr. Delpino cited a long list of irregularities that led him to "a loss of confidence in the integrity of the process and in the announced results." These irregularities include:
- Claims by election witnesses that they were kicked out of polling stations as the stations closed, making it impossible for them to oversee the final moments of the vote.
- An interruption in the electronic transmission of results from voting machines to the council’s data hub. (This could create an opening to tamper with the data.)
- The "worrying lack" of council meetings in the months before the vote, resulting in Mr. Amoroso making "unilateral" decisions about the process. This made it difficult for Mr. Delpino to push back against policies that tilted the election in Mr. Maduro’s favor, like barriers to registration abroad.
Conclusion
Mr. Delpino’s declaration is a significant blow to the credibility of the Venezuelan election and raises questions about the legitimacy of Mr. Maduro’s presidency. The opposition has called on Mr. Maduro and the National Electoral Council to release results by polling stations, but so far, no such information has been made available.
FAQs
Q: Why did Mr. Delpino speak out against the election results?
A: Mr. Delpino spoke out against the election results because he had no proof that Mr. Maduro actually won a majority of the vote.
Q: What irregularities did Mr. Delpino cite?
A: Mr. Delpino cited claims by election witnesses that they were kicked out of polling stations, an interruption in the electronic transmission of results, and the "worrying lack" of council meetings.
Q: What is the reaction of the opposition to Mr. Delpino’s declaration?
A: The opposition has called on Mr. Maduro and the National Electoral Council to release results by polling stations, but so far, no such information has been made available.
Q: What is the current status of Mr. Maduro’s presidency?
A: Mr. Maduro is under investigation by the International Criminal Court on charges of crimes against humanity and is wanted by the United States on drug trafficking charges.
