After delivery of electoral records, opposition is summoned by the TSJ in Venezuela

On Monday (5 August 2024), Elvis Amoroso, president of Venezuela’s National Electoral Council (CNE), announced the delivery of the electoral records to the Superior Court of Justice (TSJ). The election result in Venezuela is once again under intense dispute, as the opposition questions it and foreign organizations fuel the internal crisis.

Last Friday (August 2), the CNE confirmed Maduro’s re-election with 51.95% of the vote, which led the opposition to contest the result by demanding the release of the results. Edmundo González Urrutia, candidate of the Democratic Unitary Platform, claims that he was the winner with 67% of the vote, citing a report by the Carter Center that criticized the election for failing to meet international standards of democracy.

Amoroso, in a televised hearing, stated that all of the TSJ’s requests had been met. The TSJ requested several records, including those of the electoral board’s scrutiny and the final tally. The president of the TSJ, Caryslia Rodríguez, confirmed the delivery and said that an investigation into the allegations of fraud will be conducted, which could last up to 15 days.

Edmundo González and three other opposition candidates have been summoned to appear in court on Wednesday (7), while the session with Maduro is scheduled for Friday (9). The court seeks to consolidate all electoral instruments held by political parties and candidates, requiring them to provide information and answer questions.

Edmundo González did not attend the last call, which took place on Friday (2). At the time, the defeated candidates were supposed to agree to a term of acceptance of the result announced by the CNE. The government accuses this type of stance by the opposition of sabotaging the electoral process, ignoring all the country’s formal institutions.

Incitement to security forces

Venezuelan Attorney General Tarek Saab has announced a criminal investigation into opposition leaders María Corina Machado and Edmundo González for inciting disobedience and usurping their powers. The two are accused of acting outside the constitution by declaring themselves victorious and inciting security forces to disobey the law.

The political crisis is intensifying with protests across the country and calls from the opposition for the Armed Forces to support the people and prevent Maduro from taking power. The Venezuelan Public Prosecutor’s Office has opened a criminal investigation against González and Machado for usurpation of office, conspiracy and incitement to disobedience and insurrection.