Center for Strategic and International Studies
·
Published
August 1, 2024

Can Maduro Pull off the Mother of All Electoral Frauds?

Leans Right
Commentary
·
International Affairs
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Summary

  • Ryan C. Berg and Christopher Hernandez-Roy at Center for Strategic and International Studies analyze that Venezuela's recent elections showcased a blatant electoral theft by President Maduro, who manipulated election conditions, barred opposition candidates, and used repression to secure a disputed victory over Edmundo González.

  • The article asserts that the Maduro regime’s fraudulent actions, including blocking international observations and harassing opposition supporters, risk severe international isolation and a possible constitutional crisis if vote tabulations are not transparently released, undermining any claims to democratic legitimacy.

Overview:

This article was written by Ryan C. Berg and Christopher Hernandez-Roy at Center for Strategic and International Studies.

  • It outlines the events leading up to, during, and following the contested Venezuelan election, marking a severe electoral fraud by President Nicolás Maduro.
  • The opposition's preparations and international response are critical to understanding the larger implications on regional stability and democratic integrity.

Key Quotes:

  • Opposition leader María Corina Machado stated, "There are only two outcomes: a landslide victory or an obscene fraud."
  • President Nicolás Maduro had asserted his determination to win "by hook or by crook," foreshadowing the electoral manipulations.

What They Discuss:

  • The Venezuelan regime failed to meet any conditions for free and fair elections, as agreed in the Barbados agreement.
  • The opposition's candidate Edmundo González Urrutia was shown to lead by a significant margin, according to multiple polls, contradicting the CNE's official results.
  • The regime conducted widespread repression, detaining opposition members and obstructing their campaigns.
  • The National Electoral Council limited voter participation, especially among the diaspora of 5 million eligible citizens.
  • International actors, including Colombia and Brazil, have withheld recognition of the election results, emphasizing the necessity for transparency.

What They Recommend:

  • The opposition needs to maintain large and impactful protests to draw international attention and support.
  • Leveraging findings from credible organizations like the Carter Center and the OAS is crucial to discrediting the fraudulent election.
  • Civil society organizations should continue to document and share evidence of electoral abuses.
  • Acquiring and publicizing unaltered vote tabulation sheets is essential to proving electoral fraud.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Venezuelan election was marred by severe irregularities and fraud, undermining democratic principles.
  • The Maduro regime has engaged in significant repression to maintain power, posing risks to stability.
  • International recognition of the election results is divided, with key countries yet to endorse Maduro's victory.
  • The opposition's strategy focuses on continuing protests, leveraging international support, and substantiating their claims of fraud through evidence.

This is a brief overview of the article by Ryan C. Berg and Christopher Hernandez-Roy at Center for Strategic and International Studies. For complete insights, we recommend reading the full article.

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Original Read Time
9 min
Organization
The Brookings Institution
Category
Israel-Gaza War
Political Ideology
Center Left

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