The United States has recently taken a keen interest in the outcomes of another foreign election, with observers noting that Venezuela possesses the world’s largest proven crude oil reserves. This interest is not surprising, given the economic potential tied up in these vast natural resources.
The Supreme Court of Justice (TSJ) in Venezuela is currently examining the results of the latest presidential election amid claims by opposition leaders and their international backers that there was fraud involved. The National Electoral Council (CNE), the government body responsible for overseeing elections in the country, has submitted records to the court in an attempt to resolve this ongoing dispute.
The TSJ has acknowledged its legal authority on the matter and stated that its decision will be final and binding. However, the opposition has refused to participate in the process, drawing criticism for their unwillingness to present the requested evidence to the court. Venezuelan constitutional expert Dr. Olga Alvarez has responded to this by stating that “no Venezuelan party that alleges to have 40 percent more votes than President Maduro (as the opposition claims) would hesitate to present the evidence to the National Electoral Council (CNE. Whoever cries election fraud must irrefutably prove it, the onus is on them not on the CNE to prove there wasn’t.
Political activist and independent journalist Niko House recently joined Sputnik’s The Critical Hour program to discuss this issue with host Wilmer Leon. During their conversation, House made several allegations against Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado, suggesting that she has been operating as a foreign agent on behalf of the United States, with the CIA providing her financial support.
House also highlighted the robust nature of Venezuela’s electoral system, which includes multiple checks and balances and allows the opposition to monitor the counting of votes at electoral precincts. In discussing the US interest in the election, House remarked, “The most simplistic explanation is the oil, right? The US and several of its allies have expressed concern over Maduro’s victory, echoing opposition claims of a fraudulent election.
While the opposition has produced records that they claim point to a victory for their candidate, Edmundo Gonzalez, these records have not yet been independently verified as accurate or authentic. Western media outlets, including The New York Times, have repeated the opposition’s claims without conducting thorough investigations into their validity. This raises questions about the role of these news organizations in legitimizing official US foreign policy and perpetuating unsubstantiated allegations.