McGovern Statement on the Venezuelan Elections

Washington, August 9, 2024

WASHINGTON—Today, Congressman James P. McGovern (D-MA), ranking member of the House Rules Committee and Co-Chair of the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission, released the following statement on the recent elections that have taken place in Venezuela:

“What is at stake in Venezuela today is the most fundamental of democratic principles: the obligation to faithfully honor the will of the Venezuelan people as expressed on election day.   

“On July 28th, more than 10 million Venezuelans voted in their country's presidential election. Twelve days later, the National Electoral Council (CNE) has failed to comply with its constitutional mandate to count all the votes, conduct required audits, post disaggregated totals and, based on the verified results, notify Venezuelan citizens of the winning candidate—responsibilities that should have been fulfilled within 48 hours after the polls closed. Instead, the president of the CNE proclaimed a winner, prompting protests that have been met with repression. The resulting political stalemate is deeply concerning and destabilizing. At least 24 people have been killed, 1,200 are reported arbitrarily detained, journalists have been expelled and social media sites have been blocked.

“Today I renew my call for the publication and verification of the voting results. The Venezuelan government must respect the right to protest, guarantee freedom of expression and due process, and protect the civilian population, including by preserving humanitarian space. I am encouraged by reports of ongoing dialogue between the Maduro government and the governments of Brazil, Colombia and Mexico. I urge the Biden administration to support and coordinate with their efforts, to prioritize a Venezuelan-led solution to the impasse, and to refrain from taking any action that could deepen the humanitarian crisis in the country, or increase forced migration, with regional consequences. The administration must not double down on punitive secondary and sectoral sanctions because these only increase the economic hardship suffered by ordinary Venezuelans and cannot be justified on moral or human rights grounds. Intense multilateral diplomacy, conducted with patience and humility, is the only option.”