Canada condemns crackdown in Venezuela, declares opposition as the apparent victors

September 9, 2024 TruthUSA

Following the forced exit of Venezuela’s opposition candidate from the country, Canada criticized Venezuela for failing to release the results of the July election, suggesting that the opposition party had emerged victorious.

On July 28, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his opposition rival, Edmundo Gonzalez, both claimed to have won the presidential election. While Maduro has been officially declared the winner, concerns have been raised by countries like the United States, Chile, Peru, Italy, and Canada regarding the credibility of the results. Meanwhile, nations such as China, Russia, and Cuba have extended congratulations to Maduro on his victory.

Although Maduro was declared the winner with 52% of the vote compared to Gonzalez’s 43%, the electoral council has yet to provide evidence of the results. An analysis by the Associated Press of tally sheets released by the opposition indicates that Gonzalez received significantly more votes than the government reported.

Protests erupted in Venezuela after the National Electoral Council announced Maduro as the winner with 7 million votes versus the reported 3.3 million votes for Gonzalez.

Joly stated that Canada “deplores” the Venezuelan National Electoral Commission’s failure to publish the official results despite numerous requests from various countries. She also expressed concerns about Gonzalez being forced to leave the country.

Joly also denounced the Venezuelan government for stripping the protected status of the Argentine embassy in Caracas, which currently shelters some team members of opposition leader María Corina Machado. Joly mentioned that Machado had been previously barred from participating in the election “under false pretenses.”

“This unacceptable development emphasizes the immediate necessity for a democratic environment in Venezuela where political participation can thrive without fear of retaliation,” she stated.

Since the election, thousands have protested the results in Venezuela, resulting in security forces resorting to tear gas, rubber bullets, and multiple arrests. Joly declared that Canada “strongly condemns the ongoing and escalating suppression” in the nation, which has led to numerous deaths and over 2,000 “arbitrary” detentions.

Previously one of the most prosperous economies in South America due in part to its vast oil reserves, Venezuela has experienced a shrinkage in its GDP and severe hyperinflation since Maduro’s United Socialist Party rose to power in 2013. Additionally, over 7.7 million individuals have fled the country.

According to Human Rights Watch, the Venezuelan government has been accused of harassing and intimidating journalists, human rights activists, civil society groups, and political opponents.

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