Condemnation of the Venezuelan government's actions following the presidential election has been widespread and packed with geopolitical actions throughout. The United States said that its patience is "running out on waiting for the government-friendly electoral authorities to come clean", while the Organization of American States (OAS) refused to approve a resolution that demanded those same authorities to publish minutes of each voting table.
The resolution, which received 17 votes in favor, 0 against, and 11 abstentions, was a setback for the Venezuelan opposition. Nevertheless, the organization's secretary made some stern statements after the meeting, which suggest that the issue is far from finished in the body.
Almagro said that it was time to take action against those responsible for causing chaos in Venezuela, putting blame on President Nicolás Maduro himself:
"It is time to file indictment charges against those most responsible, including Maduro, who announced a bloodbath and delivered. There are 17 dead. I must admit it was shocking to hear at the time, but I must also recognize that it's much more shocking to see him actually do it."
He went on to call on the International Criminal Court (ICC) to issue an arrest warrant against Maduro for recent human rights violations in Venezuela. Almagro also called for transparency from the CNE in delivering democratic results:
"It's urgent and worrisome that the electoral college hasn't published yet, it represents an irresponsible act by the Venezuela's National Election Commission (known by the Spanish acronym CNE), constituting negligence in their functions and going against principles of transparency."
Maduro prometió un baño de sangre, y nos indignó oírlo y más nos indigna ahora que lo está haciendo. Hay premeditación, alevosía, impulso brutal ferocidad, ventaja superior. Es el momento de presentar cargos de imputación y orden de captura por parte de la Corte Penal... pic.twitter.com/lUrq3KWDE1
— Luis Almagro (@Almagro_OEA2015) August 1, 2024
The OAS had previously condemned the violence in Venezuela on Tuesday through a statement that highlighted the repressive measures and actions aimed at distorting the electoral outcome, allowing for manipulation of the results.
Almagro and Maduro have butted heads before, as the former was one of the loudest voices against the Venezuelan president in 2016, arguing back then that "the institutional crisis in Venezuela demands immediate changes in the actions of the executive branch". Almagro was also a key figure in calling for OAS members to condemn the regime when violence erupted in 2017, a move that eventually lead to Maduro quitting the organization, accusing the group of meddling in the country's internal affairs.
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