Chile refuses to recognize Nicolás Maduro as the winner: "He tried to commit fraud."

The government of Chile does not recognize Nicolás Maduro as the winner of the presidential elections in Venezuela held on July 28, 2024.

The Chilean president, Gabriel Boric, expressed his strong refusal to accept the results, citing suspicions of electoral fraud and human rights violations in Venezuela.

"I have no doubt that Maduro's regime has tried to commit electoral fraud. If it weren't the case, they would have shown the famous records," Boric declared this Wednesday.

"Additionally, they are committing serious human rights violations, repressing people who are demonstrating and initiating criminal persecutions that are ridiculous and would not be acceptable in Chile or in any other democratic country, against opposition leaders," added the Chilean president.

The president emphasized the importance of defending democratic principles regardless of differences with opponents.

"We cannot, as an international community, make the same mistake that was made at the time with Juan Guaidó. Most countries understand this," said Boric, referring to the initial recognition Guaidó received as interim president of Venezuela in 2019.

Chile has made its firm stance clear in not validating the results of the Venezuelan elections.

"Chile does not recognize Maduro's self-proclaimed victory. We do not trust in the independence or impartiality of institutions in Venezuela. We will not validate results that have not been verified by independent international organizations from the regime," emphasized Boric.

This week, the Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) Foro Penal issued a report that supports the claims of the Chilean president.

They claim that 1,102 people have been detained in Venezuela following the protests against the proclamation of Maduro as reelected president.

Among those detained are 100 adolescents and five Indigenous individuals. These detentions, which have been recorded in almost all regions of the country, are seen as a clear indication of the repression exercised by the Venezuelan government in light of suspicions of electoral fraud.

The NGO, which leads the defense of political prisoners in Venezuela, has documented these arrests from July 29 to August 6, 2024, highlighting the severity of the situation in the South American country.

Chile's rejection of the electoral results in Venezuela adds to international criticism of Maduro's regime, increasing pressure for transparent elections to be held, verified by independent international observers.

Boric's position reflects Chile's commitment to democratic values and human rights, and sends a clear message of solidarity with the Venezuelan people in their struggle for justice and democracy.