González Urrutia: Venezuela deserves an electoral body that respects results

Venezuelan President-elect Edmundo González Urrutia reiterated his stance on the July 28, 2024 presidential elections, asserting that the nation deserves an electoral authority committed to respecting outcomes and being accountable to its citizens. In a video shared on X, González Urrutia declared that Venezuelans triumphed in the election despite facing a non-independent electoral commission, the National Electoral Council (CNE), which he stated was aligned with the power they sought to change.

He argued that the election results, as evidenced by the vote tallies, demonstrated the overwhelming will of the people, which he claimed could not be obscured even by fraud. However, he warned that a biased electoral body poses a constant threat to democracy. González Urrutia stressed that the independence of the electoral power is the bedrock of any legitimate democratic process, stating, "Without a legitimate arbiter, elections are an empty ritual, a formality that power uses to legitimize itself without being accountable to anyone."

González Urrutia called for a different kind of electoral body in Venezuela, one where board members are appointed transparently, with input from civil society, and supported by the international community. He believes such a CNE would guarantee respect for every vote, ensure the publication of all results, and allow Venezuelans, both domestically and abroad, to exercise their right to vote freely. "An independent Electoral Power does not fear results, it defends them. That is what Venezuela needs for the next presidential election to be what the people choose," he concluded.

The debate surrounding electoral legitimacy in Venezuela remains contentious since the July 28 presidential elections. The CNE declared Nicolás Maduro's re-election without publishing or providing official tallies from polling stations. The opposition, led by González Urrutia, denounced the process as fraudulent and has garnered significant international non-recognition of the results. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio recently urged the swift establishment of institutional conditions for fair elections in Venezuela, highlighting the creation of a transparent and independent electoral commission as a top priority.