I welcome the decision by UN Secretary-General António Guterres to make the interim report of the United Nations Panel of Experts public. The Panel was invited by Venezuela's National Electoral Council (CNE) to assess the overall conduct of the elections within the framework of the Barbados Agreement. This timely report sheds light on the electoral process and highlights the lack of substantiation for the results announced by Venezuelan authorities. 

The report establishes that election day on 28 July took place in a largely peaceful environment and was logistically well organized. However, the announcement of the election outcome without the publication of its details or the release of tabulated results to candidates is extremely concerning. The report clarifies that the CNE postponed and subsequently cancelled three key post-electoral audits. It concludes that “the results management process of the CNE fell short of the basic transparency and integrity measures that are essential to holding credible elections”. 

I also take note that the UN Panel of Experts confirms, in line with the reviews and assessments of several independent organizations, the reliability of the copies of the electoral records published by the opposition. According to these published copies of the ‘actas,’ Edmundo González Urrutia would appear to be the winner of the Presidential elections by a significant majority.

In a democracy, results must be complete and independently verifiable to be recognized. At this critical time, the European Union reiterates its call for the Venezuelan electoral authorities to publish and independently verify the electoral records. The international community must defend the democratic process and ensure the conditions for the Venezuelan people to exercise their civil and political rights. 

We welcome the efforts by regional partners to promote a Venezuelan-led dialogue that reflects the will of the people as expressed at the polls, provides guarantees to both sides, and leads to a democratic transition. Respecting the will of the Venezuelan people remains the only way for Venezuela to restore democracy and to solve the current humanitarian and socio-economic crisis. Venezuelan authorities must put an end to arbitrary detentions and repression against members of the opposition and civil society, and release all political prisoners.