News Mania Desk/Agnibeena Ghosh/30th July 2024
Venezuela has severed diplomatic relations with seven Latin American countries that questioned the legitimacy of President Nicolas Maduro’s recent election victory. The government has expelled the diplomatic missions of these nations and withdrawn its own staff from their territories.
Foreign Minister Yvan Gil announced the immediate departure of diplomatic personnel from Argentina, Chile, Costa Rica, Peru, Panama, the Dominican Republic, and Uruguay, citing “interventionist acts” by these countries. The Venezuelan government stated its commitment to defending its right to self-determination and pledged to confront actions threatening peace and coexistence.
The move follows concerns raised by these countries over the results of the presidential election held on Sunday. According to the regime-controlled electoral council, Maduro won with 51.2 percent of the votes. However, opposition candidate Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia and his coalition have disputed the official results, claiming they secured 73.2 percent of the voting tallies.
Maria Corina Machado, an opposition leader and ally of Urrutia, argued that a review of voting records shows a “mathematically irreversible” lead for Urrutia, with 6.27 million votes to Maduro’s 2.75 million. The disputed election results have sparked widespread protests across Venezuela. Thousands of Venezuelans took to the streets, chanting slogans such as “Freedom, freedom!” and “This government is going to fall!” Security forces responded with tear gas and rubber bullets to control the unrest.
The opposition has vowed to continue challenging the election results, alleging fraud and political intimidation. The diplomatic fallout from the election dispute has exposed a deep divide in Latin America. While some nations support Maduro’s government, others have rejected the election outcome. Peru recalled its ambassador to Caracas, deeming the results “very serious,” and Costa Rica’s President Rodrigo Chaves denounced the outcome as “fraudulent.”
Chilean President Gabriel Boric expressed disbelief at Maduro’s victory, and Colombia’s Foreign Minister Luis Gilberto Murillo called for an “independent audit” of the election results. Argentina’s right-wing President Javier Milei condemned Maduro in a social media post, demanding, “DICTATOR MADURO, OUT!!!”
In contrast, Maduro received congratulations from allies such as Cuba, Nicaragua, Bolivia, and Honduras, highlighting the regional divide over the election results. The international community has also reacted to the election dispute. The United States, Britain, and the European Union have expressed concerns over the legitimacy of the election and called for transparency and a fair count of votes. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated that the announced result “does not reflect the will or the votes of the Venezuelan people.”
Meanwhile, Russia and China have congratulated Maduro on his victory, further illustrating the geopolitical split regarding Venezuela’s political situation.
As Venezuela navigates this period of political turmoil, the severance of diplomatic ties with seven Latin American nations marks a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict over the disputed election results. The government’s stance and the opposition’s resolve to contest the outcome signal a prolonged period of instability and international scrutiny for the country.
