Venezuela’s Supreme Tribunal of Justice ruled on Thursday in favor of President Nicolás Maduro, affirming his victory in the July 28 presidential election, despite strong evidence that his opponent secured more votes. The court, known for its loyalty to Maduro, based its decision on a report from “national and international experts” but did not release any supporting vote tallies, ignoring demands from both Venezuelan protesters and international observers.
Maduro’s government, which has been accused of suppressing the opposition and manipulating the electoral process, is likely to use this ruling to solidify his hold on power, with his new term set to start in January 2024. The decision also dismisses calls from the United States and other countries for transparency and a potential power transition.
The opposition, led by Edmundo González and supported by MarÃa Corina Machado, claimed it won 67 percent of the vote and provided detailed evidence on its website. Independent analyses and reports from international observers, including the United Nations and the Carter Center, backed the opposition’s claims, citing significant irregularities in the election.
In response to foreign criticism, Maduro ordered the expulsion of some diplomatic missions and increased repression within Venezuela, including deploying security forces to suppress protests and passing new laws to target opponents. This ruling marks another chapter in the country’s deepening authoritarianism under Maduro’s socialist regime, which has been in power for 25 years amid economic decline and diminishing democratic freedoms.
