by Staff Reporter
April 18, 2013 (TSR) – Nicolás Maduro’s victory last Sunday in Venezuela’s presidential election, in which he attained nearly 51% of the vote, was recognized on Wednesday in a session of the Organization of American States (OAS).
During the meeting, held in the Liberator Simón Bolívar Hall at the OAS headquarters, Venezuela’s representative Carmen Velásquez expressed gratitude for the expressions of solidarity with the decision made by a majority of voters on April 14.
“We would like to thank the countries of Unasur [Union of South American Nations], Mercosur [Common Market of the South], Caricom [Caribbean Community], Alba [Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our Americas], and all the expressions of solidarity with the decision of a majority of Venezuela. We are very happy with what happened on Sunday. In 14 years we have held 18 elections; our political awareness has matured each time,” she said.
“Be assured that Sunday’s results were what the people decided. In that sense, we insist on respect for the people. As in every democracy, there are differences; we will know how to resolve domestic [matters],” Velásquez affirmed.
Pronouncements
Argentina’s OAS representative read a statement that declared: “The people and government of Argentina express their congratulations to President Nicolás Maduro for his electoral victor . . . The people ratified Hugo Chávez Frías’ revolutionary path to build a united Latin America of solidarity.”
Ecuador’s delegate expressed “support for Venezuela’s democratic process and the position it is staking out for the future, as well as conciliation for peace in the country.”
In behalf of the member countries of Unasur, Uruguay’s representative congratulated the Venezuelan people for the high voter turnout in the presidential election and affirmed President Maduro’s commitment to regional integration.
Colombia’s delegation stressed that the electoral results published by Venezuela’s National Electoral Council (CNE) ought to be respected given the pronouncement by CNE President Tibisay Lucena.
On behalf of his government and people, Nicaragua’s representative wished “great success for Nicolás Maduro, elected by the will of the people as Venezuela’s head of state for the 2013-2019 term.”
Peru also welcomed and gave its support to Venezuela’s constitutional president, Nicolás Maduro.
OAS Secretary General José Insulza said he was “deeply worried by the condemnable acts of violence” that occurred on Monday night in Venezuela, expressing sadness for the eight deaths that followed former candidate Henrique Capriles Radonski’s call for his followers to willfully ignore the election’s results.
