Spanish – Abstention triumphed in Venezuela. The empty voting centers proved this throughout the day. After 1:30 am on Monday, the Chavista National Electoral Council (NEC) admitted 69% abstention. Earlier, the opposition concurred with the numbers of international news agencies such as EFE, which showed an 80% abstention.
The rejection was evident. The citizens did not respond to the call of Nicolás Maduro’s regime to participate in elections considered fraudulent from the very start. The call made by the illegitimate National Constituent Assembly (ANC) and the organization in the hands of the NEC appointed by the dictatorship in violation of the constitution confirms this.
The bulletin put forth by Indira Alfonzo, President of the NEC states that the participation was 31%. Of the 20.7 million Venezuelans inscribed in the Electoral Registry, 3,558,320 reportedly voted for Chavista candidates, equivalent to 67.6 % of the votes cast. And a total of 944,665 votes would have been for the supposed opponents, that is, 17.95%. This bulletin was issued with 82.35% of the ballots counted.
The reality could be even more catastrophic for the regime than the one admitted. The Anti-Fraud Observatory reported that by mid-day, the participation was at 7.6%. On Sunday night, EFE affirmed that it did not reach 20%. This figure coincides with the one reported by the team of the interim president, Juan Guaidó.
The high abstention contradicts the support that the regime claims to have from a population that is more concerned about getting gasoline and food than about participating in a rigged election in the middle of a pandemic. The proof was in the streets. Venezuelans preferred to stay at home.
#6Dic #Miranda #EleccionesParlamentarias @luisgonzaloprz: Liceo La Arocha de #Petare el más grande centro electoral de esta parroquia, pero la abstención superó a las amenazas. La otra foto, hay más gente tratando de surtir gasolina que de votar pic.twitter.com/rBoYhXIHpB
— Reporte Ya (@ReporteYa) December 6, 2020
Resumen de las elecciones de este domingo. Abstención evidente con centros de votación sin electores y miembros de mesa dormidos. Según los datos de la oposición ocho de cada diez ciudadanos se quedaron en sus casas. pic.twitter.com/I4rk4YtqEB
— Daniel Blanco (@DanielBlancoPaz) December 6, 2020
Rigged “Opposition” Election
Unsurprisingly, the dictatorship took over the National Assembly again with this election that is not recognized by the bulk of the international community. Besides the fraud foretold since the announcement, the high level of abstention further undermines the legitimacy of the process.
Another evident irregularity was the fact that the number of deputies was increased from 167 to 277, without any demographic changes to justify this expansion.
Additionally, the Supreme Court of Justice (TSJ)- controlled by Chavismo- seized the ballots of the opposition parties to assign them to groups that allied themselves with the regime.
For example, the leadership of the Democratic Action party, which belonged to Henry Ramos Allup, was given to Bernabé Gutiérrez.
This led Maduro to ironically presume that of the 14400 candidates, 13000 were the opposition. And that of the 107 registered political parties, 95 were the opposition.
The desperate “climax”
Extending the voting hours did not help the regime to increase the low numbers either. The clock was ticking past 8:00 at night, and the electoral centers were still open by order of the NEC, but without people.
They resorted to the worn-out strategy of going house by house to force those who had not voted, as requested by Chavismo’s second in command, Diosdado Cabello.
#6dic “Piso por piso, apartamento por apartamento”, así está “la operación remate” buscando votos en #ARAGUA
“Viva Rodolfo Marco Torres”, grita #Parlamentarias2020
Cortesía #Elecciones2020Reportan mismo procedimiento en otros estados…
NO DORMIRÁN! ?? pic.twitter.com/jSgGaaCJAu
— Mildred Manrique (@milmanrique) December 7, 2020
“At this moment, the abstention is very high,” said Chavista Julio César León Heredia, governor of the state of Yaracuy, in an audio clip that was leaked during the elections.
León concludes his message, supporting Cabello’s opinion. “Let’s verify who has voted. And those who have not gone to vote, we begin to look for them in different ways and using any method. Let’s go for a melee from now on.”
Maduro’s son was another who accepted the catastrophic scenario for the regime, as another leaked audio proves. “I tell you that we are not satisfied with the results so far- 3:00 p.m.- that we have achieved.”
A “consummated” fraud
The opposition led by interim president Juan Guaidó assured that abstention stood at 80%. In a message spread through social media, Guaidó celebrated the fact that Venezuelans left the voting centers empty and reiterated that this election is fraudulent.
“The fraud has been consummated, and the majority rejection of the Venezuelan people has been evident. Despite censorship and the hegemony of communication, the truth cannot be hidden.”
With days of anticipation, “the results were rigged,” assured Guaidó, who highlighted the ironic character of this election because it took place with a “false National Electoral Council, false candidates, false opponents, and foretold results.” His call is to participate in the referendum that culminates on December 12, with which he seeks to raise awareness to reject this electoral farce and increase international pressure against the dictatorship.
Hoy la mayoría de Venezuela le dio la espalda a Maduro y a su fraude.
La crisis solo se va a profundizar y estamos obligados a mantenernos de pie hasta lograr soluciones.
Por eso, el #12D todos a las calles a la #ConsultaPopular. #CentrosDelFraudeVacíos https://t.co/HjrDghG6p0 pic.twitter.com/dPgn65zizD
— Juan Guaidó (@jguaido) December 7, 2020
International Repudiation
The Organization of American States (OAS), the International Contact Group, the Lima Group, the United States, and the United Kingdom all expressed their rejection of these elections.
“Venezuela’s electoral fraud has already been committed. The results announced by the illegitimate Maduro regime will not reflect the will of the Venezuelan people. What’s happening today is a fraud and a sham, not an election,” said US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Twitter.
Venezuela's electoral fraud has already been committed. The results announced by the illegitimate Maduro regime will not reflect the will of the Venezuelan people. What's happening today is a fraud and a sham, not an election.
— Secretary Pompeo (@SecPompeo) December 6, 2020
The Colombian government also indicated in a statement that “it is not possible to recognize the legitimacy of elections that were held without the existence of a neutral electoral authority.”