Maduro Signs Pledge to Respect 6D Election Results, Opposition Refuses

Caracas, October 28th 2015 (venezuelanalysis.com) – On Monday, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro signed an agreement with the country’s National Electoral Council (CNE), pledging to accept the results of the parliamentary elections this coming December 6th.

At the CNE headquarters in Caracas, the head of state stated that his signature represented Chavismo’s commitment to maintaining peace in Venezuela, regardless of who the Venezuelan people elect to the national assembly. The pro-Maduro coalition of political parties and social movements, the Great Patriotic Pole, also signed the pledge on October 15th.  

“It’s a commitment, of respect, and of respecting the people’s will in the elections. Whoever wins, wins, and whoever loses, loses,” he said. 

Maduro also announced that the document would be circulated throughout the nation’s main public squares so that the people could also sign and confirm their commitment to recognising the results. 

Nonetheless, the opposition coalition, the Roundtable of Democratic Unity (MUD), has repeated its position of previous years in boycotting the agreement. Its decision has led to speculation that it plans to contest the election results or cry fraud. 

Back in April 2013, the opposition infamously refused to accept current President Nicolas Maduro’s victory over their presidential candidate, Henrique Capriles Radonski, by a narrow margin (1.49%) in the national elections- despite the fact that a full audit had been conducted by the CNE and upheld by international observers and organisations such as UNASUR (Union of South American Nations). 

Capriles also publicly accused the internationally-renowned CNE of tampering with the votes in an attempt “change the will of the people”. At least nine people were killed and sixty people injured in the ensuing opposition-led violence. 

Possible post-election opposition violence appeared to be at the forefront of President Maduro’s mind on Monday, when he warned Venezuelans that Chavismo was currently facing “an emergency”. 

“The rightwing is preparing, not to win the elections, but to overthrow a democratically-elected government,” he warned. 

Despite the opposition refusal, CNE President Tibisay Lucena confirmed that the body is committed to ensuring that the parliamentary elections take place without complications.

“It’s not about about an act of faith, but a scientific and highly technological process, and most importantly, (a process) which is highly verifiable in each of its stages,” she stated.