... CARICOM appears divided on the matter
BASSETERRE, St. Kitts -- THE United States has shown a keen interest in the Venezuelan elections, throwing its support behind the opposition, with the leader now joining the protest line.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken held discussions on Friday with Edmundo González Urrutia and María Corina Machado. During the discussions, Blinken congratulated González Urrutia for receiving the most votes in Venezuela’s July 28 presidential election, as documented by the democratic opposition’s extensive efforts to ensure a transparent accounting of the votes.
Despite his congratulations, the Venezuelan electoral commission recently announced that Maduro had won 51 percent of the votes from the general elections, which is not sitting well with the supporters of the opposition parties.
On Saturday, opposition leader María Corina Machado joined the protesters waving flags as they continued their demonstrations. Meanwhile, congratulations for Nicolás Maduro continue to pour in from his allies around the region and internationally. One such congratulation came from Antigua and Barbuda’s Prime Minister Gaston Browne, who recently noted, “Your success at yesterday’s elections signals a strong message for an engaging democracy, a respect for sovereignty, tolerance, and good political relations, not only in Venezuela but within the Caribbean and Latin America.”
The region has been divided over the elections, with Guyana calling for the release of data from the vote tabulation, while the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) has remained relatively neutral. CARICOM Chairman, Grenada’s Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell, noted that it is an internal matter within the country. When questioned about whether CARICOM is divided on the matter, the prime minister said no.
St. Kitts and Nevis, often seen as a close partner to the South American nation, has not commented on the situation.
Secretary Blinken expressed his concern for the safety and well-being of the opposition leaders following the election and condemned all political violence and repression. He applauded the Venezuelan people for their dedication to democracy in the face of significant challenges and reaffirmed the United States’ commitment to supporting the process of re-establishing democratic norms in Venezuela.
Several countries within the Latin American region have thrown their support behind González, alleging that he received the most votes. Clashes between supporters and the police have resulted in at least 20 deaths, as reported by Al Jazeera.
