Caracas, August 22, 2024 — Venezuela’s Supreme Justice Tribunal on Thursday ratified President Nicolas Maduro’s victory in the disputed July 28 presidential election, solidifying institutional backing for the ruling party amid growing international scrutiny and domestic unrest.
The court’s decision marks a crucial step for Maduro, whose administration has faced accusations of election fraud and human rights abuses. The tribunal, led by President Caryslia Rodriguez, reviewed evidence from the national electoral authority and confirmed Maduro’s win, a decision that cannot be appealed.
“The results of the presidential election of July 28 released by the national electoral council, where Nicolas Maduro was elected president of the republic, are validated,” Rodriguez declared during the announcement.
While the electoral authority claims that Maduro secured just over half of the votes, it has yet to release the full voting tallies. In contrast, the opposition, led by candidate Edmundo Gonzalez, published what it claims to be 83% of voting machine tallies online, showing Gonzalez with a commanding 67% of the vote.
Gonzalez and his supporters have condemned the court’s ruling, arguing that the Supreme Justice Tribunal has no constitutional right to carry out electoral functions, rendering its decision null. “Sovereignty rests with the people and is intransferable. Organs of state emanate from and are subject to popular sovereignty,” Gonzalez stated on social media following the ruling.
The opposition’s refusal to hand over their copies of the voting machine tallies and Gonzalez’s non-appearance at the court summons were labeled by Rodriguez as “blatant disrespect,” which could lead to unspecified sanctions against them.
The court’s decision comes amid a broader government crackdown on dissent, which opposition groups, human rights organizations, and unions have decried as a systematic attempt to silence opposition. Since the election, Maduro’s administration has arrested opposition figures and protesters, launched investigations into opposition leaders for allegedly inciting the military to commit crimes, enacted laws tightening restrictions on NGOs, and forced the resignation of state employees with pro-opposition views.
The ratification of Maduro’s win has drawn mixed reactions from the international community. While countries like Russia and China have congratulated Maduro, many Western nations have called for the full publication of election results. Sources indicate that the U.S. is preparing to impose sanctions on approximately 60 Venezuelan government officials and their family members in response to the election controversy.
The ratification ensures that Maduro, who first took office in 2013, will begin another six-year term in January. The president had requested the court’s verification of the election results, and the court’s judges had summoned all candidates to submit their copies of voting machine tallies, which are legally required.
Gonzalez’s absence at the summons further fueled the government’s narrative of opposition misconduct, as Rodriguez suggested that the electoral council should publish its definitive results but did not provide a timeline.
Since the election, at least 23 protesters have been killed in anti-government demonstrations, and the United Nations reports that approximately 2,400 people have been arrested. Maduro has labeled the demonstrators as “extremists” and “fascists,” further deepening the divide in the already polarized nation.
