The Venezuelan Supreme Court’s certification of sham election results amounts to a coup d’etat against the people’s sovereignty.
HAVANA TIMES – The electoral fraud that was consummated after the polls closed in Venezuela on the night of July 28th, has now been transformed into a cynical and unacceptable coup d’etat against the popular will.
Four weeks have now passed since the Venezuelan National Electoral Council – an institution under the thumb of the government – proclaimed the non-existent reelection of Nicolas Maduro in the presidential race. Then on Thursday, August 22nd, Venezuela’s Supreme Court, another gear in the official machinery, issued a shameful declaration “certifying beyond any objections” the sham results.
In addition, the Supreme Court declared the opposition candidate, Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia – who has documented an electoral victory with almost 70% of the votes – in “contempt” and “disobedience.” The Court then asked the Public Prosecutor’s office, yet another institution that lacks independence, to file charges against those who published the precinct-by-precinct voting tallies, documenting Edmundo Gonzalez’ victory.
The Supreme Court lacks jurisdiction over electoral matters, so its decision is invalid, even in the context of the precarious Venezuelan “legality.” However, the most serious issue isn’t that they overstepped their role, but that the proclaimed “certification” lacks any factual evidence to support it. On the contrary, the National Electoral Council never made public the printed voting records, polling place by polling place, nor has it accepted an independent audit.
The Supreme Court ignored this situation, referring simply to the “electoral material assessed” as the basi
