The Venezuelan government announced on Monday that incumbent President Nicolas Maduro won Sunday’s presidential election with 51% of the vote, while opposition candidate Edmundo Gonzalez received 44%. However, the opposition claims Gonzalez actually won with 70% of the vote, supported by exit polls.
"We are closely monitoring the situation in Venezuela, which is politically and economically significant for the international community. The [Polish] Foreign Ministry emphasizes the importance of transparency and respect for voters' will in all countries, including Venezuela. Like the USA and the UK, we express concern over recent events, particularly reports of possible irregularities," Szejna told the Polish Press Agency.
Szejna stressed that Poland would not take any actions that could be interpreted as interference in another country's electoral process, and would refrain from evaluating the Venezuelan elections until the situation becomes clearer.
"We are also closely listening to international voices on this matter. The role of the USA, which is observing these events closely, and the EU's foreign policy chief is particularly important here," he noted. He expressed hope for a peaceful resolution in Venezuela and the entire region.
EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell emphasized on Monday the need to respect the will of the Venezuelan people, but also highlighted the importance of access to voting records.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken expressed "serious concerns" about the announced results of Venezuela’s presidential elections. Meanwhile, the UK Foreign Office voiced concerns about "serious irregularities" during the elections, calling for the swift and transparent publication of detailed results to ensure the election outcomes reflect the Venezuelan people's votes.
On Monday afternoon, the governments of nine Latin American countries jointly expressed concern over the conduct of the Venezuelan elections, stating that the voting process was not "transparent, and its outcome raises doubts."
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Source: PAP
