September 10, 2024
One month and ten days after the presidential elections in Venezuela, the regime has not only failed to produce the slightest evidence of an electoral result but has forced into exile the candidate Edmundo González – who, taking into account what has happened since the date of the election, undoubtedly won the elections – based on unsubstantiated summons to the Attorney General’s Office and threats of imprisonment. This action by the Venezuelan authoritarian regime is obviously condemnable and reprehensible.
In other words, everything has been as expected of them. A few days ago, we said that it was ridiculous to expect free, fair and transparent elections from the National Electoral Council (CNE), just as it is ridiculous to expect justice from the different actors in the Venezuelan justice system. Therefore, Edmundo González only did what was required on this occasion. Venezuela definitely does not need one more political prisoner, one more tortured person, one more victim of systematic human rights violations. We know what the regime’s prisons are like and we know the sad human nature of the chain of command of dictatorial repression.
In this electoral process that has not ended, we must continue working so that the true winner of the elections of July 28th assumes the Presidency of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela in January of next year. The objectives that we pursue in defense of democracy and human rights must continue and our commitment must be greater the worse the circumstances are.