International

Venezuela shows evidence of fraud in primary event

Photo: @Asamblea_Ven

October 27 |

The president of the National Assembly (AN) of Venezuela, Jorge Rodríguez, met in Caracas with representatives of the diplomatic corps accredited in the country and exposed details of the agreements assumed by the National Government and a sector of the opposition to contextualize the evidence of the fraudulent primary event that took place last October 22.

He referred that recently the National Government signed in the capital of Barbados with representatives of the oppositions two agreements: one related to the political and electoral conditions, with a view to the presidential election of 2024, and the other which expressed the firm intention to defend the territorial integrity of Venezuela and to defend the Venezuelan patrimony and assets that are abroad.

He pointed out that the first of them seeks that the results of that election be shared by all and that they may be fair, verifiable and supported by the goodness and strengths of the national electoral system, considered one of the most reliable, efficient and fast in the world. All this was embodied in this agreement, he emphasized.

He reminded that it is a robust and reliable automated system, and throughout it there are 18 audits (including the inspection by experts of the machines, the software, the electoral registry, the machine set to zero on the day of the elections and the voting records, among many others).

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He explained that in one of its paragraphs, the agreement on the elections makes it clear that these conditions will be applied to the rest of the electoral processes to be carried out in the country.

He emphasized that political parties in Venezuela are subject to public scrutiny and to the provisions of the Constitution and electoral laws, such as the Organic Law of Electoral Processes, the Comptrollership Law and others. He made clear that these parties “are not secret brotherhoods, they are not private companies, they are not anonymous companies” and must adhere to the mandate of the law.

In addition to these standards, during the signing of the agreements it was defined that the National Electoral Council (CNE) is the only entity legally vested in the country to summon, organize and carry out elections of any kind and thus avoid any irregularity.

He added that on two occasions the NEC communicated with the organizations with political purposes which conform the so called Unitary Platform and on both occasions this sector refused to allow the NEC to organize the election.

He questioned the refusal of this sector to use the voting centers and tables, the electronic machines and all the support usually provided by the CNE. He assured that this could only be explained because a fraud of incalculable proportions had been organized.

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He denounced that there were no voting centers and people did not know where to go to vote. Very few were known to exist and with very vague coordinates. On the other hand, 30 percent of the voting centers were inside private residences.

He commented that then began to appear denunciations of candidates and resignations of members of the boards of this primary event in the states, among them the vice-president of the national commission of the event, who claimed the participation of the CNE in this process.

She said that the resignations of candidates prevented the election from being participatory. How can an election be competitive if there is only one candidate left with possibilities, since two others resigned, she asked. He assured that what happened on Sunday, October 22 cannot be considered an election. It does not have any quality or verifiability.

He commented that another candidate explained that there were no voting centers, it was not known who the witnesses were and the audited electoral material had not arrived, among other irregularities. He said that weeks before the primary event, a private company called Súmate -owned by María Corina Machado- hijacked the primary event and, for example, created mega voting centers -with 6,000, 10,000 voters, for example- which prevented thousands of voters from voting.

He affirmed that 25 percent of the 5,000 voting tables were never installed. He emphasized that the objective of all this was to create agglomeration and irritation among his own followers, in addition to trying to mediatically implant an opinion matrix favorable to anxiety and to politically annihilate the parties that signed the agreements in Barbados.

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There is no election if you cannot present medium or minimally reliable results, said Rodriguez.

International

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Speaking to state television, Araghchi argued that Washington’s call for negotiations reflects a position of weakness. He added that the Islamic Republic seeks to end the war on its own terms, ensuring that such a conflict does not recur in the future.

Meanwhile, the White House issued a stark warning, stating that Trump would “unleash hell” on Iran if it refuses to accept a deal to end the conflict. Despite Tehran’s rejection, U.S. officials maintained that discussions remain ongoing.

White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt reinforced the administration’s position, warning that failure to acknowledge what she described as Iran’s military defeat would result in even stronger action from Washington.

The increasingly aggressive rhetoric from both sides has diminished hopes for a near-term de-escalation in the conflict, which began following U.S. and Israeli strikes against Iran on February 28.

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As tensions continue to rise, the prospect of a diplomatic resolution remains uncertain amid conflicting narratives and escalating threats from both governments.

International

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Maduro, 63, and his wife, Cilia Flores, 69, have been held in a detention facility in Brooklyn for nearly three months. Their only previous court appearance took place on January 5, when Maduro declared himself a “prisoner of war” and pleaded not guilty to drug trafficking charges.

A large police convoy departed the detention center early in the morning, heading toward the federal courthouse in Manhattan, where the hearing was scheduled. Security around the building was reinforced as both supporters and opponents gathered outside.

Among those present was Venezuelan educator Carlos Egana, who expressed frustration and called for justice, reflecting the polarized reactions surrounding the case. At the same time, left-wing activists displayed banners demanding Maduro’s release and criticizing U.S. foreign policy.

Maduro governed Venezuela from 2013 until his removal from power earlier this year. Following his ouster, Delcy Rodríguez assumed the interim presidency, initiating a shift in relations with the United States.

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The former leader faces multiple charges, including narco-terrorism conspiracy, cocaine importation, and illegal possession of weapons.

During Thursday’s hearing, scheduled for 11:00 a.m. local time, Maduro’s legal team was expected to push for the dismissal of the case, while also addressing disputes over how his legal defense will be financed amid ongoing U.S. sanctions.

His lawyer, Barry Pollack, has argued that restrictions on accessing Venezuelan state funds could affect Maduro’s right to legal representation, adding another layer of complexity to a case with significant political and international implications.

International

German president says trust in U.S. leadership is ‘lost’ amid global tensions

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“The rupture is very deep, and the loss of trust in U.S. great power policy is significant—not only among its allies, but also, as I observe, globally,” Steinmeier said during a speech in Berlin marking the 75th anniversary of Germany’s Foreign Ministry.

Referring to the future of transatlantic relations, he stated that “there is no return to the situation before January 20, 2025,” the date marking the start of Trump’s second term in the White House.

“Even a future U.S. administration will no longer be able to resume the role of a benevolent hegemon guaranteeing a liberal international order,” added Steinmeier, who previously served as Germany’s foreign minister.

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“This war is avoidable and unnecessary,” he said.

Although the German presidency is largely ceremonial, Steinmeier’s remarks reflect a broader concern within Germany, aligning with the government’s cautious stance while going further in tone.