Costa Rica, Ecuador, Panama, and the Dominican Republic rejected Nicolás Maduro’s inauguration as president of Venezuela, citing fraudulent elections. The Alliance for Development in Democracy condemned the event as illegitimate, with opposition claims of electoral misconduct. Human rights violations and politically motivated arrests have increased, garnering international concern and urging for a democratic transition in Venezuela.
Costa Rica, Ecuador, Panama, and the Dominican Republic have collectively denounced the inauguration of President Nicolás Maduro for a third term in Venezuela, deeming the electoral process fraudulent. The four nations, part of the Alliance for Development in Democracy (ADD), expressed their condemnation of the “illegitimate inauguration act of January 10 in Venezuela,” which they attribute to state terror imposed on the Venezuelan populace. This position aligns with critiques from the United States, the European Union, and various Latin American countries.
Nicolás Maduro has been in office since 2013, and his recent swearing-in has been met with sharp criticism from the opposition, particularly from Edmundo González Urrutia, who claims victory in the disputed presidential election held on July 28. González Urrutia refers to the inauguration ceremony as a “coup d’état,” emphasizing that Maduro is positioning himself as a dictator. The ADD insists that the evidence indicates a significant majority of votes favored González Urrutia, contrary to the Venezuelan electoral authority’s claim that Maduro secured only 52% of the vote.
Despite the Venezuelan authorities’ assertion of Maduro’s electoral win, the official count has not been released, raising questions of transparency. The opposition accuses Maduro of suppressing dissent and violating human rights, with human rights organizations reporting numerous politically motivated arrests. Alfredo Romero, president of the NGO Foro Penal, confirmed that there have been “49 politically motivated arrests in Venezuela” since the start of the year. United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has also expressed concern regarding the human rights situation in Venezuela and called for the release of arbitrarily detained individuals.
The ADD remains committed to collaborating with the international community to foster a democratic transition in Venezuela, aiming to end a period marked by oppression and systematic violations of human rights. The ongoing crisis in Venezuela calls for urgent global attention and intervention to restore democracy and protect fundamental freedoms.
In recent years, Venezuela has faced significant political turmoil, with ongoing accusations of electoral fraud and human rights abuses under Nicolás Maduro’s regime. The international community, particularly organizations and governments within Latin America, has increasingly criticized the legitimacy of Maduro’s presidency. The divisive elections have led to disputes over the rightful leadership of Venezuela, with claims of widespread repression against opposition parties and dissenters, culminating in heightened tensions both domestically and internationally.
The condemnation of Nicolás Maduro’s inauguration by Costa Rica, Ecuador, Panama, and the Dominican Republic underscores the widespread concern regarding the legitimacy of his government following allegations of electoral fraud. As the international community calls for a democratic transition in Venezuela, the situation remains precarious, with significant implications for human rights and governance in the region. The ADD’s pursuit of a collaborative approach with global partners reflects a commitment to restoring democracy and addressing the humanitarian crisis unfolding in Venezuela.
Original Source: ticotimes.net
