A The European Union (EU) said on Sunday that “continues to follow events in Venezuela with great concern” and that the results of the last presidential elections published by the National Electoral Council (CNE) “cannot be recognized” without the publication of the electoral records.
“Reports from international election observation missions clearly state that the presidential elections of July 28 did not meet international standards of electoral integrity“, reads a letter from the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell.
“Despite its own commitment, the Venezuelan National Electoral Council (CNE) has yet to publish the official voting records (‘minutes’) of the polling stations,” Borrell continued in the letter, considering that “Without evidence to support them, the results published on August 2 by the CNE cannot be recognized.”
“Any attempt to delay the full publication of the official voting records will only cast further doubt on the credibility of the officially published results”he further warned, considering that “copies of the electoral voting records published by the opposition and reviewed by several independent organizations indicate that Edmundo González Urrutia appears to be the winner of the presidential elections by a significant majority“.
The EU therefore called for “greater independent verification of electoral registers, if possible by an internationally renowned entity”.
In the same letter, Borrell also argued that, “at this critical moment”, it is important that the demonstrations and protests in the country – which have already resulted in dozens of deaths and thousands of arrests – “remain peaceful”.
“The Venezuelan authorities, including the security forces, must fully respect human rights, including freedom of expression and assembly,” the EU’s top diplomat urged, expressing his “serious” concern about “the increasing number of arbitrary arrests and the continued harassment of the opposition”.
Borrell, speaking on behalf of the 27 EU member states, said the community “calls on the Venezuelan authorities to put an end to arbitrary arrests, repression and violent rhetoric against members of the opposition and civil society, and to release all political prisoners”, while at the same time “welcoming the efforts of regional partners, with whom it maintains close contact, to promote dialogue and a negotiated solution to the crisis”.
“Respecting the will of the Venezuelan people remains the only way for Venezuela to restore democracy and resolve the current humanitarian and socioeconomic crisis”he concluded.
Read Also: Venezuela. Opposition thanks support from countries demanding electoral records
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Source: https://www.noticiasaominuto.com/mundo/2610163/duvidas-uniao-europeia-nao-reconhece-resultados-na-venezuela
