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Washington has raised “serious concerns” following the Sunday Venezuelan election result declaring President Nicolas Maduro the winner.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Monday that the result was not accurate.
“We have serious concerns that the result announced does not reflect the will or the votes of the Venezuelan people,” Blinken said in Japan.
Shortly before he spoke, Venezuela’s electoral council had announced that Maduro won re-election to a third six-year term with 51.2 per cent of votes cast.
Independent polls had predicted Sunday’s vote would bring an end to 25 years of “Chavismo”, the populist movement founded by Maduro’s socialist predecessor and mentor, the late Hugo Chavez.
“It’s critical that every vote be counted fairly and transparently, that election officials immediately share information with the opposition and independent observers without delay, and that the electoral authorities publish the detailed tabulation of votes,” Blinken said.
“The international community is watching this very closely and will respond accordingly.”
AFP.
