Washington, DC — Representative Gregory W. Meeks, Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, issues the following statement regarding the ongoing political crisis in Venezuela: 

“As thousands take to the streets in Venezuela in protest of the Maduro regime’s delays in verifying last week’s election results, I call on Venezuela’s National Electoral Council (CNE) to make the vote tallies public and honor the will of the Venezuelan people.   

“Credible, publicly available tally sheets received directly from polling stations throughout Venezuela, an estimated 80% of the total votes cast, indicate that opposition candidate Edmundo González received an overwhelming majority of all votes. These numbers discredit Maduro’s claims of electoral victory.  

“I am also deeply concerned by the ongoing harassment of the political opposition, by allegations of forced disappearances, and other serious human rights violations. These further erode the trust and legitimacy of the electoral process and must cease immediately. I welcome the Administration working with the Governments of Mexico, Colombia, and Brazil, along with pro-democratic Latin American and Caribbean partners and the European Union to uphold democracy and respect for human rights in Venezuela. 

“I strongly urge CNE to expeditiously publish independently validated election results. Further delays will only exacerbate the country’s ongoing economic, political, and humanitarian crises. Millions of Venezuelans peacefully and bravely made their ways to the polls to make their voices heard. Venezuelan authorities have a duty to honor the will of the people."

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