Opponents of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro sing the national anthem during a demonstration called by opposition leader Maria Corina Machado over the presidential election disputed results, in Caracas on August 3, 2024. – Venezuela braced for fresh protests after President Nicolas Maduro’s disputed election victory was ratified on the eve — and a growing number of nations recognized his opposition rival as the true winner. (Photo by Federico PARRA / AFP) / The erroneous mention appearing in the metadata of this photos by Federico PARRA has been modified in AFP systems in the following manner: [Opponents of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro attend a demonstration called by opposition leader Maria Corina Machado over the presidential election disputed results, in Caracas on August 3, 2024.] instead of [Venezuelans living in Colombia take part in a protest against Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro’s disputed victory in Venezuela’s presidential elections during a rally in Medellin, Colombia, on August 3, 2024.]. Please immediately remove the erroneous mention from all your online services and delete them from your servers. If you have been authorized by AFP to distribute it them to third parties, please ensure that the same actions are carried out by them. Failure to promptly comply with these instructions will entail liability on your part for any continued or post notification usage. Therefore we thank you very much for all your attention and prompt action. We are sorry for the inconvenience this notification may cause and remain at your disposal for any further information you may require.
The European Union on Sunday said Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro’s contested re-election last month “cannot be recognised”, as the country’s electoral authority has failed to produce the official voting records.
The results published by Venezuela’s National Electoral Council on August 2 “cannot be recognised. Any attempt to delay the full publication of the official voting records will only cast further doubt” on their credibility”, the EU Council said in a statement.
Unlike the United States and several other countries, the EU has refrained from recognising opposition candidate Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia as president-elect.
“Copies of the electoral voting records published by the opposition, and reviewed by several independent organisations, indicate that Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia would appear to be the winner of the Presidential elections by a significant majority,” the EU statement said.
“The European Union thus calls for further independent verification of the electoral records, if possible by an internationally reputed entity,” it added.
The EU called “on Venezuelan authorities to put an end to arbitrary detentions, repression and violent rhetoric against members of the opposition and civil society, and to release all political prisoners”. bur-
