Electoral fraud in Venezuela: Maduro prevails amid international distrust.

The recent electoral process in Venezuela has sparked a wave of rejection and distrust following the official declaration by the National Electoral Council (CNE) proclaiming Nicolás Maduro as the winner with 51.2% of the votes. This result has been described by various political actors and analysts as a "great fraud," once again mocking the will of the Venezuelan citizens. From the beginning of this process, Maduro's regime has employed manipulation tactics that have called into question the legitimacy and transparency of the vote. One of the most notable strategies of Chavismo was the exclusion of significant opposition leaders, particularly in the case of María Corina Machado, who had garnered substantial support in her party's primaries. In an attempt to dismantle the opposition, the regime not only barred her participation but also launched a systematic campaign to discredit her supporters. Despite these adversities, Machado managed to transfer her support to Edmundo González Urrutia, an academic who ran for election with a platform largely unknown to most voters. During the electoral campaign, the state's deployment of resources was overwhelming. The regime utilized media and social assistance to promote Maduro's image, while security forces harassed Machado's collaborators and followers. Additionally, Chavismo rejected the presence of international observers, such as the European Union, and limited the participation of Venezuelans abroad, resulting in only about 1% of them being able to exercise their right to vote. Despite all this manipulation and attempts at censorship, the most serious polls indicated a victory for González Urrutia by a margin of 20 to 30 percentage points. However, the CNE, led by Elvis Amoroso—a known associate of Maduro—surprised the world by announcing that the incumbent president had won. This unexpected result has triggered an international outcry for transparency and a review of the electoral records. The reaction from the international community was immediate. Governments from various nations, including Argentina, Chile, the United States, and several countries in the region, have demanded that the records be shown and that an audit of the process be conducted. Although Chavismo attempted to downplay these demands, even organizations authorized to observe the process, such as the United Nations and the Carter Center, refused to certify the results, citing a lack of transparency. On the other hand, the opposition has reported irregularities in accessing the results, indicating that they were only allowed to observe 40% of the voting records. Despite these obstacles, in the records they were able to obtain, González Urrutia was shown to have a resounding 70% of the votes. This suggests that the regime may be manipulating information by claiming that the records were lost or hacked, an unfounded accusation directed at Machado and other opponents. The speed with which the CNE declared Maduro the winner, without waiting to resolve the reported irregularities, has created an atmosphere of distrust and protests in several cities across the country. The regime's desperation to maintain control is becoming evident, and citizens have begun to raise their voices in rejection of the results they consider fraudulent. Furthermore, the stance of certain politicians in the region, such as the Peruvian congressmen from Peru Libre and Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, who have supported the results, has drawn criticism. Many observers have pointed out that this backing of such a questionable process reveals a lack of commitment to democratic principles, despite their proclamations of defending democracy. The international community has a responsibility to act in defense of democracy and the will of the Venezuelan people. Allowing Maduro's regime to get away with consolidating an electoral fraud would be a betrayal of the collective commitment to freedom and justice. Venezuelans deserve a transparent electoral process where their voices are heard and respected. In this context, the struggle for democracy in Venezuela has become more crucial than ever. The international community must unite to ensure that the will of the people is not trampled upon, and that the "great fraud" suffered by the country does not become the norm. History will judge those who choose to remain silent in the face of injustice and oppression.