U.S. leads OAS in condemning Venezuelan parliamentary elections

By Aaron Humes: Bradley A. Freden, Deputy Permanent Representative of the United States OAS Permanent Council, this week condemned as “fraudulent” parliamentary elections held in the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela on December 6.

Frieden called the election, which resulted in a victory for the alliance of parties led by President Nicolas Maduro, “the latest act in the playbook of the Maduro regime to undermine and ultimately destroy democracy in Venezuela,” following Maduro’s presidential victory in 2018 and subsequent alleged abuses.

In addition to restraining the Opposition led by Juan Guaido, Freden told the Council, “Maduro has nearly destroyed a once-prosperous country. The economy is in free fall and with hyperinflation has resulted in a month’s wage barely covering one day’s worth of food. The coronavirus is ravaging the country, with the health care system nearing collapse. Over five million Venezuelans, roughly the number that voted in the so-called elections, have fled the country. The people who remain are desperate, and the Maduro regime preys on their desperation, allocating meager public assistance and food assistance to those who support and vote for the regime.”

The U.S. has led condemnation of Venezuela, which is no longer a member of the OAS, for ignoring its demands to have fair elections in which the Opposition could participate without fear. It thanked OAS members for their continued support in hounding Maduro and “standing firmly for the restoration of democracy in Venezuela. We have just approved a strong resolution, and with this resolution, the OAS joins the Lima Group, the European Union, the International Contact Group, and over 50 countries worldwide to reject this election farce. Today we have been called upon to take a stand for democracy, and we have done so.”

The OAS’ resolution was approved with 21 votes in favor (Bahamas, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, St Lucia, Uruguay, the United States, and Venezuela); 2 against (Bolivia and Mexico); 5 abstentions (Argentina, Barbados, Belize, Saint Kitts and Nevis, and Suriname); and 6 absent (Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, Nicaragua, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and Trinida9d and Tobago.)

We will have the response from the Venezuelans later on.

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