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The Supreme Tribunal of Justice (TSJ) of Venezuela Thursday upheld the re-election of Nicolás Maduro as president, a decision that has sparked widespread controversy. The ruling comes amidst ongoing allegations of voter fraud in the July election, with critics questioning the court’s independence.
The TSJ’s decision, announced by its head, Caryslia Rodríguez, validates the election results provided by the National Electoral Council (CNE), which claimed that Maduro secured just over half of the vote. Rodríguez declared that the electoral material was “certified unobjectionable,” making the court’s ruling final and unappealable. Maduro praised the decision as a “historic and forceful ruling.”
However, the ruling has been met with sharp criticism, particularly from the United Nations. Marta Valiñas, chair of a UN Human Rights Council fact-finding mission, accused the Venezuelan government of exerting undue influence over the TSJ. She highlighted concerns about the impartiality of the judiciary, pointing out that Rodríguez is a known member of Maduro’s ruling party and has previously held elected positions within it.
The controversy surrounding the election does not end with the court’s ruling. The opposition, led by candidate Edmundo González, has vehemently contested the results, claiming that the official tallies are fraudulent. Opposition observers have published what they assert are the true election results, which indicate that González won by a significant margin—67% of the vote compared to Maduro’s 30%. These claims have been supported by independent experts who have reviewed the documents.
The election has triggered a wave of unrest across the country. Since the announcement of Maduro’s victory, at least 23 protesters have been killed in anti-government demonstrations, and around 2,400 people have been arrested, according to UN reports. The protests were fueled by the CNE’s refusal to release detailed voting tallies on election night, further inflaming suspicions of electoral fraud.
International reactions to the election have been mixed. While Western countries have called for the Venezuelan authorities to publish the voting tallies in full, allies of Maduro, including Russia and China, have congratulated him on his victory.
The Maduro government has responded to the unrest with a crackdown on the opposition. Authorities have launched investigations into opposition leaders, accusing them of inciting the military to commit crimes. Additionally, new legislation is being pushed through the National Assembly to tighten regulations on non-governmental organizations, and state employees who are suspected of supporting the opposition have been forced to resign.
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