OAS considers democracy in Venezuela to have collapsed – Translate Cuba

Paraguay’s President Santiago Peña expressed concern about the resurgence of authoritarianism and populism in the region

EFE (via 14ymedio), Luque (Paraguay), August 20, 2024 — The lack of transparency in Venezuela’s July 28 elections shows that the country’s democratic system has collapsed, the Secretary for the Strengthening of Democracy of the Organization of American States (OAS), Mexican Francisco Guerrero, said on Tuesday.

“In what electoral process in the world do you wait three weeks to know the evidence that guarantees a result? Nowhere else in the world. What this confirms is that the democratic system in Venezuela has collapsed,” he told the EFE Guerrero agency, which is participating in the XVII Inter-American Meeting of Electoral Authorities (RAE) in the Paraguayan city of Luque.

According to the official, Venezuelans have “chosen a direction that is contrary” to the results of the National Electoral Council (CNE), which formalized Maduro’s victory for a third six-year term in power, a result questioned by the opposition and much of the international community.

The electoral authority is characterized as ‘in the hands of the regime’

“In the case of Venezuela in particular, I think it has been clear, it has been very clear, that people have chosen a direction that is contrary to what the electoral authority says,” Guerrero said. In addition, he considered that the electoral authority “has been characterized as being in the hands of the regime of Nicolás Maduro.”

The Democratic United Platform (PUD), Venezuela’s largest opposition coalition, called the results announced by the CNE fraudulent and said its standard-bearer, Edmundo González Urrutia, was the winner of the election. Guerrero pointed out that the electoral “lack of independence” in Venezuela, as well as the “lack of political capacity” of the Maduro government “to recognize what people really said at the ballot box, have caused this crisis.”

In this context, the OAS delegate stressed the importance of “the fact that the electoral authorities are autonomous and independent and do not respond to the dictates of those in power or to interest groups.”

Opening the meeting, OAS Secretary General Luis Almagro said via video that they will continue “fighting for the return of democracy to Venezuela.” “The goal remains a democratic future, without political persecution, with full respect for fundamental rights,” Almagro said, urging electoral authorities to ensure that every vote and vote counts.

The OAS will continue to fight for the return of democracy in Venezuela, Almagro assured

Opening the meeting, which concludes on Wednesday, Paraguayan President Santiago Peña expressed concern about the “slow revival of authoritarianism, populism and anti-democratic ideas” in the region.

He said many would have people believe “that democracy is not up to the big challenges,” such as transnational crime, economic inequality or insecurity.

To him, to them, I say today loud and clear: false prophets. On the contrary, I am convinced that the only way to fight these dangers is not with authoritarianism or its cousin, demagogic populism, but with democracy,” he concluded.

Peña also urged representatives of the 27 countries attending the meeting to ensure the validity of democracy and provide “clear answers” ​​that guarantee citizens’ trust.

“I hope that in these days when we hear voices of despair fighting for the return of authoritarian models, this meeting will be a true beacon of hope, of struggle for democracy, and that it will be a light in the midst of darkness,” he said.

The crisis in Venezuela is not explicitly on the agenda

In Paraguay, authorities from the 35 inter-American electoral bodies will analyze the impact and risks of artificial intelligence on democracy and the integrity of electoral processes.

They will also discuss multilateral efforts to preserve democracy, systemic health and democratic institutions, and promote secure information ecosystems in the electoral sphere.

In the same way, there will be room for dialogue on the effects of political violence on the elections. The crisis in Venezuela is not explicitly on the agenda, although it will certainly be one of the topics of debate.

Translated by Regina Anavy

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