Venezuela’s Election, Rigged or Credible?

Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro’s government made the decision to claim victory in elections which took place this week despite a lack of transparent data and proof of an absolute win.

Several nations have refused to acknowledge Maduro’s claim to victory due to “electoral manipulation.”

Maria Corina Machado, Venezuela’s opposition leader, said the margin of candidate Edmundo González’s victory was “overwhelming” based on voting tallies that came in via campaign operatives who were reporting in from across the nation.

Even independent exit polls pointed to a landslide opposition win.

Despite this, however, the National Electoral Council (NEC) (which is operated by Maduro’s people) said Maduro secured 51% of the vote to 44% for González.

What isn’t being so readily reported is that the NEC refused to release the tallies from 30,000 polling booths nationwide, instead choosing to delay their release.

“The Venezuelans and the entire world know what happened,” opposition candidate Edmundo González said after Maduro claimed victory.

GOVERNMENTS DISAPPROVE

The U.S. and a number of other governments have voiced strong concerns over the official vote count.

The Biden administration says electoral manipulation removed “any credibility” from Maduro’s claim of reelection victory.

This has led the Biden administration, who previously removed and then reinstated some sanctions on the country, to leave the door open to implementing new sanctions.

Argentina’s President Javier Milei has also refused to recognize the results of Venezuela’s election, issuing a statement on X:

Seeking to further encourage the people of Venezuela, Milei also posted on TikTok stating:

“Courage, dear Venezuelans, you will get ahead.”

Several other nations have sounded the alarm over the election outcome including: Chile, Costa Rica, Peru, Panama, the Dominican Republic, and Uruguay.

All of these countries, including Argentina, have had their ambassadors expelled from Venezuela.

Venezuelan Foreign Minister Yván Gil accused these nations of “interfering” in the country’s internal affairs and that Venezuela would be withdrawing its diplomatic personnel from these countries.

U.S. IMPACT

Concerns are now rising as nations in Latin America all the way up to the United States, brace for the potential of another wave of migration.

Over the past 10 years, the ongoing crisis caused by the Socialist regime in Venezuela has forced over 7.7 million people to leave their homes. This has since been dubbed the largest exodus in Latin America’s recent history.

The majority of Venezuelan migrants who leave their homeland choose to settle in other Latin American countries, as well as in the Caribbean, whilst others make their way to the United States.

Political repression and ever lessening economic opportunities were outlined as two of the predominant driving forces in Venezuela emigration according to the Annual Threat Assessment of the U.S. Intelligence Community.

Maria Corina Machado warned there could be irregularities prior to the election and how impactful those irregularities could be on immigration.

Speaking with the Miami Herald, Machado said:

“Nobody benefits from Venezuela collapsing and descending into total chaos, which is what will happen if Maduro doesn’t hold the election.”

“Failure to hold the election could result in an additional one to two million new [Venezuelan] migrants over the next few months.”

“The migration will only slow down and reverse itself the day when Venezuelans feel they have a future in their country,” she continued. “But that will only happen when we kick Maduro and this regime out of power.”

U.S. Customs and Border Patrol confirmed that Venezuelans were the second largest group of illegal aliens crossing the U.S. southern border in 2023.

In total, there were over 260,000 encounters which serves as a fivefold increase from 2020.

The Socialist regime in Venezuela has lead to widespread suffering and this is because of Socialism’s wicked roots which are antithetical to the Gospel.

CONCLUSION

“When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn.” Proverbs 29:2

The Hebrew word here used signifies to increase, either in number, or in dignity and power, but it appears from the opposite clause that the latter is intended in this place.

The people rejoice — For the blessed effects of their good government; but when the wicked beareth rule — When an ungodly man governs; the people mourn — For the oppressions and mischiefs which they feel, and for the dreadful judgments of God, which they justly fear.

Regardless of where you are in the world, a government exists and God didn’t leave instruction and insight out of His Word regarding this important institution of authority and how we, as believers, are to engage in and with it!

When the wicked increase in numbers in positions of authority, the good will be cast down and wickedness will be promoted – sound similar to what we are experiencing in our land?

But there is also a reversal of these actions when Christians come into places of authority.

When the righteous are ever increasing in their places of authority, they understand their heavenly mandate – to cast down those who do evil and to encourage and promote those who do righteous deeds. This is what leads to rejoicing!

This is why we, the body of Christ, who have been made righteous are to take our rightful place in every place in society, including in the influential places like government and we are to do so in ever increasing numbers!

Thank you for your support.

If you appreciate the work we do to spread the good news of Jesus Christ, please consider giving a gift to help us continue this work. Maranatha!