Venezuelan Electoral Official Claims Maduro’s Re-election Lacks Transparency

In a significant protest against the official election results, a Venezuelan electoral official has expressed serious concerns regarding the transparency and integrity of the country’s recent elections. Juan Carlos Delpino, a member of the National Electoral Council (CNE), publicly criticized the declaration of President Nicolás Maduro as the election winner, citing extensive evidence that suggested otherwise.

Delpino, one of five members of the CNE, is noted for his opposition to the Maduro government’s electoral practices. He voiced his concerns through a letter shared on social media, highlighting various irregularities that occurred both before and during the July 28 elections. Among the issues he raised were the slow reporting of results from automated voting machines and the expulsion of several opposition volunteers, which raised red flags about the transparency of the electoral process.

According to Delpino, he was informed that the delay in announcing the results was attributed to a supposed hacking of the CNE’s system, with only 58% of results supposedly reported. In protest, Delpino chose not to participate in the vote-count monitoring or the subsequent press conference, where CNE President Elvis Amoroso announced Maduro’s electoral victory.

“I deeply regret that the results fail to benefit the Venezuelan people or foster national unity,” Delpino stated. “Instead, they only increase skepticism among the populace and the international community.”

Delpino’s statements come as President Maduro maintains that he won re-election by over a million votes. The Maduro administration has ignored demands from several international bodies, including the U.S. and the European Union, for access to voting records that would verify their claims.

On the other hand, the opposition has released what they allege are genuine tallies from 80% of polling machines, indicating that their candidate, Edmundo González, won decisively. In response, the Venezuelan Supreme Court has dismissed these figures as falsified, and the Attorney General has initiated a criminal investigation against González for alleged attempts to incite panic in the country following the election.

González has firmly stated he will not comply with the Attorney General’s summons, arguing that such actions infringe upon his constitutional rights and due process. He has called for Maduro to release the records from the approximately 30,000 voting machines nationwide, advocating for independent verification of the election results.

In a direct message to Maduro, González emphasized the need for transparency to ensure peace in the nation, stating, “Venezuela is experiencing times of uncertainty and unease due to efforts that undermine our desire for change. Releasing the voting acts is vital for guaranteeing peace.”

After the election, both González and his prominent supporter, opposition leader Maria Corina Machado, have faced increased risks, leading them to go into hiding following widespread arrests of protestors and opposition members. They have called on Venezuelans to mobilize on Wednesday to mark the one-month anniversary of their alleged electoral victory.

Delpino also mentioned in a recent interview that he has entered hiding due to the prevailing political climate. His letter brought attention to what he described as a lack of adequate preparation by the CNE, citing insufficient meetings before the elections, which left unclear rules regarding the participation of campaign workers and international observers.