Venezuela's Presidential Election: Regional Response and Democratic Transition

Overview of Venezuela's 2023 Presidential Election

On July 28, 2023, Venezuela held a presidential election that has been widely disputed. According to voter tally sheets presented by the opposition, challenger Edmundo Gonzalez won by more than twice as many votes as incumbent Nicolas Maduro. However, the Maduro-controlled National Electoral Council announced different results favoring Maduro.

In the aftermath, many countries across the globe have called for transparency and independent verification of the vote tallies. The United States and key allies in the region have recognized Gonzalez as the winner. Meanwhile, the Maduro regime has cracked down on protesters and opposition figures.

Regional Response at the Organization of American States

In response to the disputed election, regional countries called an emergency meeting of the Organization of American States (OAS) the following week. While a resolution condemning electoral fraud failed to pass, it is notable that not a single regional government voted against it.

According to US Ambassador to the OAS Francisco Mora:

"There was outrage and a lot of concern among a number of member states that what had happened in Venezuela on Sunday and Monday was unacceptable and that the OAS, the premier multilateral forum of the hemisphere, needed to make a statement."

Mora noted that the OAS usually does not act so quickly, as it is a multilateral forum with 34 member states. However, they were able to convene an emergency meeting and vote on a resolution within days. While the resolution did not pass due to abstentions, no country voted against it.

"I think there was something of a recognition that there was at a minimum a disputed election," Mora explained. "There were issues that occurred on Sunday and Monday that were not clear, that were not transparent."

Ongoing Diplomatic Efforts

Ambassador Mora indicated that work is underway on a potential follow-up resolution to be considered next week:

"We are now working on a process that hopefully will lead next week to another special meeting on Venezuela where we could work towards a resolution. That is work in progress now. We have the time to negotiate, we have the time for diplomacy now."

He emphasized that the goal is to reach a consensus document among OAS member states if possible. Key priorities for a new resolution include:

• Addressing human rights concerns and recent crackdowns
• Urging the international community to remain engaged
• Calling on the Maduro regime to stop repression and respect the will of voters

"We need to, I think our view is that some of this has to be included in the resolution," Mora stated. "We'll see where the negotiation goes. These negotiations take a long time and it's always a back and forth."

Importance of Sustained International Pressure

A key theme emphasized by Ambassador Mora was the need for sustained international pressure and attention on Venezuela. He warned against allowing Maduro to simply wait out international interest:

"What we can't do, what we absolutely cannot do is just get tired and move on to other things. We cannot, will not abandon the Venezuelan people."

Mora noted this is exactly what Maduro wants - for the international community to get distracted and the news cycle to move on. He stressed the importance of persistence:

"Even if there are small steps, they're small steps very much guided by what happens on the ground. We just got to keep at it."

He pointed to the example of Guatemala, where the OAS passed 12-13 resolutions over time to support democracy. Mora argued a similar sustained effort is needed for Venezuela.

Balancing Pressure and Support for Negotiations

While emphasizing the need for continued pressure, Mora also highlighted the importance of supporting Venezuelan-led negotiations and dialogue:

"We should take our lead from the democratic forces in the country, the democratic opposition. They are the key actors in this."

He praised recent comments by Chile's president as striking the right tone and warned against Maduro's efforts to divide the international community.

Mora argued that while external support is important, internal Venezuelan actors are the most crucial:

"Any process of transition requires an international, external, exogenous component and that's what we're doing. But at the end, those tend to be secondary variables. The variable that really counts, the actors that really count are the internal actors."

Concerns About Further Repression

Ambassador Mora expressed serious concern about the potential for escalating repression by the Maduro regime, particularly the possibility of arresting opposition leaders:

"For me I think the big concern is if in fact Maria Corina Machado and Edmundo Gonzalez are arrested and detained. I think that would be a step that could mobilize the international community even more."

He warned such a move could backfire on Maduro:

"If Venezuela, if Maduro decided to do this, this will bring the international community in ways that he could not imagine. And his efforts to fracture and divide the international community I think would have failed wholeheartedly."

Mora also highlighted concerns about the "exponential growth" in repression and detention of protesters, opposition figures, and even journalists covering events. He emphasized the need to keep calling attention to human rights violations.

Role of U.S. Congress and Broader International Community

The ambassador noted the important role of the U.S. Congress in maintaining focus on Venezuela through bipartisan statements. He also praised joint statements with European governments as helpful in presenting a united international front.

Mora expressed support for the ongoing initiative by Brazil, Colombia and Mexico to negotiate a way forward, while emphasizing the need to ensure democratic forces in Venezuela have a seat at the table.

He declined to speculate on specific "exit road" scenarios for Maduro, saying: "The last thing you want is the U.S. OAS ambassador to be commenting on exit roads." However, he affirmed the importance of exploring different pathways forward.

Message to the Venezuelan People

In closing, Ambassador Mora offered a message to Venezuelans and the diaspora:

"We will not abandon the Venezuelan people. We will not just simply say we're tired, we've got other things, we're distracted... We will not do that."

He emphasized the OAS commitment to democracy and human rights as core pillars, arguing this obligates continued engagement on Venezuela:

"If we're serious about those two pillars, if we're serious about the Inter-American Democratic Charter, we're serious about the commitments we all made, we member states made to human rights, then we have no other option than remain fully engaged in the Venezuelan situation."

Mora framed Venezuela as a key test case for democracy in the region, following positive developments in Guatemala:

"We had a test case, that test case was Guatemala. And that turned out okay. Well, we got another test case here - it's Venezuela. And we have to have the same approach to it."

Conclusion

The disputed 2023 Venezuelan presidential election has prompted significant regional and international response. While initial efforts at the OAS to pass a resolution fell short, diplomatic initiatives continue to support a democratic transition.

Key priorities moving forward include:

• Maintaining sustained international pressure and attention
• Supporting Venezuelan-led negotiations while respecting opposition voices
• Addressing human rights concerns and potential escalation of repression
• Aligning incentives to encourage a peaceful democratic transition
• Coordinating regional and broader international efforts

As Ambassador Mora emphasized, the situation remains fluid and concerning. However, he expressed an unwavering commitment to supporting the democratic will of the Venezuelan people. Continued engagement from the OAS, regional partners, the U.S., and the broader international community will be crucial in the weeks and months ahead.

Article created from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Em-EIEpyuMk