EU Calls for Full Transparency in Vote Counting in Venezuela's Controversial Re-election of President Maduro

EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell on Monday called on Venezuela to ensure ‘full transparency of the electoral process’ after President Nicolas Maduro was re-elected in a controversial vote.

Borrell wrote about this on Platform X.

The EU's top diplomat noted that the people of Venezuela voted for the future of their country peacefully and with a high turnout.

‘Their will must be respected. Ensuring full transparency of the electoral process, including a thorough count and access to polling station records, is vital,’ Borrell said in his post.

According to CNN, despite the opposition's accusations of election irregularities, Venezuela's electoral commission announced the re-election of authoritarian leader Nicolas Maduro as president with 51.20% of the vote.

Maduro will serve a third consecutive six-year term in office, continuing the ‘Chavismo’ rule that began in 1999 under former President Hugo Chavez. 

Throughout the election process, there was growing concern that the opposition would not see a fair fight, as Maduro's government controls all Venezuelan state institutions and has been accused of rigging previous elections.