CARACAS, Venezuela: Venezuela’s Supreme Court is set to deliver a final and binding ruling on the disputed presidential election held on July 28, 2024, as stated by the court’s president, Carylsia Rodriguez.
The high court’s decision will conclude the ongoing assessment of the election results, with its rulings being described as “final and binding.”
The election has been marred by controversy and accusations of fraud. President Nicolas Maduro, who claims to have won a narrow victory, has faced opposition from rival candidate Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia. The opposition contends that Gonzalez Urrutia won decisively, presenting what they claim are official vote tallies from various polling stations as evidence of his lead.
Maduro’s administration has been accused of manipulating the electoral process. The National Electoral Council (CNE) initially ratified Maduro’s victory, reporting he secured 52 percent of the vote. However, the CNE did not release detailed vote counts, citing a cyberattack that compromised the election data. The opposition, in contrast, has released its own figures, suggesting Gonzalez Urrutia garnered 67 percent of the vote, which the government dismisses as unfounded.
The Supreme Court, perceived by many as loyal to Maduro’s government, convened to validate the election outcome following Maduro’s request. Gonzalez Urrutia has remained out of the public eye due to fears of arrest, and prominent opposition leader Maria Corina Machado, who was banned from the race, is reportedly in hiding.
Protests following the election have been met with severe crackdowns, resulting in at least 24 deaths and 2,200 arrests, according to rights groups. The election and subsequent unrest come against the backdrop of Venezuela’s severe economic decline, characterized by an 80 percent drop in GDP, exacerbated by economic mismanagement and international sanctions.
As the Supreme Court prepares to finalize its ruling, the international community watches closely, with significant implications for Venezuela’s political stability and democratic process.
