Guatemalan President Bernardo Arévalo has declared that his government does not recognize Nicolás Maduro as the legitimately elected president of Venezuela, questioning the transparency of the results presented by the country's National Electoral Council (CNE).
During a press conference on Monday, Arévalo stated that the outcomes of the July 28 presidential election in Venezuela fail to meet the "minimum transparency standards required by a modern democracy."
Guatemala's decision to reject the victory claim of the chavista regime aligns with the stances of countries like Ecuador, Costa Rica, Argentina, Uruguay, and Panama, which recognize opposition candidate Edmundo González as the winner based on the count of tally sheets published by the opposition.
Arévalo strongly condemned the repression and violence unleashed by the Venezuelan government against its own people, which has resulted in over a dozen deaths according to the Penal Forum and around 2,000 arrests, according to Venezuelan authorities.
"Our government vehemently condemns the repression and violence that the Venezuelan government has inflicted upon its own citizens," the Guatemalan leader asserted.
Referring to the massive protests against the official election results, he said that no government can be considered legitimate if it maintains power through violence against its population.
The Guatemalan president also mentioned that he is in constant communication with regional leaders to seek a peaceful resolution to the crisis in the oil-rich nation.
"I am in continuous contact with regional leaders to discuss solutions aiming for a democratic exit from the crisis in Venezuela," he emphasized.
The CNE of Venezuela awarded the victory to Maduro with 51.95% of the votes compared to González's 43.18%, according to the latest figures released last Friday. However, the Democratic Unity Platform (PUD) has published "81% of the electoral records," which they claim show that González won by a substantial margin of 30 percentage points.
Guatemala had already indicated on August 2 that it did not recognize the official election results. Diplomatic relations with Maduro's government have been suspended since 2020, when both countries decided to close their diplomatic missions.
Guatemala's Stance on Venezuelan Elections
Here are some frequently asked questions about Guatemala's decision not to recognize Nicolás Maduro's election victory in Venezuela.
Why does Guatemala not recognize Nicolás Maduro as the elected president of Venezuela?
Guatemala's President Bernardo Arévalo has questioned the transparency of the election results presented by Venezuela's National Electoral Council, stating that they do not meet the minimum standards required by a modern democracy.
Which countries support Guatemala's stance on the Venezuelan elections?
Countries like Ecuador, Costa Rica, Argentina, Uruguay, and Panama also do not recognize Nicolás Maduro's victory and support opposition candidate Edmundo González based on the opposition's tally sheets.
What actions has Guatemala taken regarding diplomatic relations with Venezuela?
Guatemala has suspended diplomatic relations with Nicolás Maduro's government since 2020, with both countries closing their diplomatic missions.