Secretary General’s statement on the presidential election in Venezuela

In 2000, Venezuela joined 106 nations in adopting the Warsaw Declaration.  Its first principle states the will of the people shall be the basis of the authority of government, expressed by exercise of the right and civic duties of citizens to choose their representatives through regular, free and fair elections with universal and equal suffrage, open to multiple parties, conducted by secret ballot, monitored by independent electoral authorities, and free of fraud and intimidation.

The election cycle in Venezuela has been troubled by the disqualification of the opposition presidential candidate, abuse of incumbency by the Maduro government, and now by the announcement of dubious election results.

I join many of the Community of Democracies’ Governing Council Member States in the Americas, and across the world, in seeking transparency from the Maduro government and call for the popular will of Venezuelans as expressed in yesterday’s peaceful ballot to be respected.