An attempt by the EU to issue a common statement critical of a contested presidential election in Venezuela was torpedoed by a Hungarian veto, according to sources cited by Politico.
Venezuela’s incumbent president, Nicolás Maduro, who has been in power since 2013, was declared victorious on Sunday in an election process widely criticized as flawed. The narrow win of 51% against 44% for Maduro’s main opponent, Edmundo González Urrutia, was announced by a government-controlled electoral council run by a Maduro ally that failed to clarify how the result had been counted. The opposition rejected the result as rigged and vowed to contest it.
The debacle led to widespread demonstrations and rioting in Venezuela, which left two dead and dozens wounded, the BBC cited local NGOs as saying. The news service also reported that the unrest, described by the defense minister as a “coup,” had resulted in 750 arrests.
The European Union sought to join the international denunciation of the vote in a joint statement, but under the bloc’s rules such foreign policy moves require unanimity among the 27 member states. Two Brussels officials familiar with the discussions were cited by Politico as saying the statement failed due to opposition from Budapest.
The bloc’s foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell, published the statement in his own name on Monday, accusing the election of being “marred by numerous flaws and irregularities.” The statement on the European External Action Service website also expressed the EU’s concern over “arbitrary detentions and intimidation of members of the opposition and civil society,” and appealed for calm.
Borrell subsequently issued a second statement on Tuesday, without seeking the backing of the member states, in which he said the Venezuelan authorities “must guarantee the transparency and integrity of the electoral process by independently verifying the official voting records,” in order for its results to be recognized. He also took to the X platform to call on Caracas to cease the repression of oppositionists.
Former New York Times correspondent Benjamin Novak drew attention on X to a visit by Hungary’s foreign minister, Péter Szijjártó, to Caracas last November. The post highlighted that Szijjártó had visited with a delegation of energy executives and that Hungary had sought to improve relations with Venezuela with a view to rebuilding business ties.
Maduro has accused the U.S. and the West of fueling the war in Ukraine. Following Sunday’s announcement of Maduro’s re-election, Vladimir Putin said the Kremlin was deepening ties with Caracas. The Russian president also sent Maduro a congratulatory message saying: "Remember, you are always a welcome guest on Russian soil," the BBC reported.
The debacle led to widespread demonstrations and rioting in Venezuela, which left two dead and dozens wounded, the BBC cited local NGOs as saying. The news service also reported that the unrest, described by the defense minister as a “coup,” had resulted in 750 arrests.
The European Union sought to join the international denunciation of the vote in a joint statement, but under the bloc’s rules such foreign policy moves require unanimity among the 27 member states. Two Brussels officials familiar with the discussions were cited by Politico as saying the statement failed due to opposition from Budapest.
The bloc’s foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell, published the statement in his own name on Monday, accusing the election of being “marred by numerous flaws and irregularities.” The statement on the European External Action Service website also expressed the EU’s concern over “arbitrary detentions and intimidation of members of the opposition and civil society,” and appealed for calm.
Borrell subsequently issued a second statement on Tuesday, without seeking the backing of the member states, in which he said the Venezuelan authorities “must guarantee the transparency and integrity of the electoral process by independently verifying the official voting records,” in order for its results to be recognized. He also took to the X platform to call on Caracas to cease the repression of oppositionists.
Budapest-Caracas ties"The Venezuelan authorities must put an end to arrests, repression and violent rhetoric against the opposition members. Threats against @EdmundoGU and @MariaCorinaYA are unacceptable.
— European External Action Service - EEAS 🇪🇺 (@eu_eeas) July 31, 2024
Authorities and security forces must ensure respect for human rights." https://t.co/2T07kiSHm9
Former New York Times correspondent Benjamin Novak drew attention on X to a visit by Hungary’s foreign minister, Péter Szijjártó, to Caracas last November. The post highlighted that Szijjártó had visited with a delegation of energy executives and that Hungary had sought to improve relations with Venezuela with a view to rebuilding business ties.
In common with Hungary’s prime minister, Viktor Orbán, Nicolás Maduro has maintained strong ties with Moscow and during his November visit to the Venezuelan capital, Szijjártó said the two countries shared a common position on the war in Ukraine. Hungary has repeatedly hampered EU initiatives aimed at supporting Ukraine in its war with Russia.In Nov '23, HU foreign min Peter Szijjarto visited Caracas with a delegation of 🇭🇺 energy execs. He said Hungary wants rebuild its relations quickly so that it too can profit from cooperation w Venezuela.https://t.co/gxMtgRU8qK https://t.co/M7vD5Lbt7v
— Benjamin Novak (@b_novak) July 31, 2024
Maduro has accused the U.S. and the West of fueling the war in Ukraine. Following Sunday’s announcement of Maduro’s re-election, Vladimir Putin said the Kremlin was deepening ties with Caracas. The Russian president also sent Maduro a congratulatory message saying: "Remember, you are always a welcome guest on Russian soil," the BBC reported.
Source: Politico, eeas.europa.eu, PAP, BBC, Reuters
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