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International Observers to Venezuela’s Election Pen Letter to the EU

via Venezuelan Analysis

In view of the ongoing Western attempt to destabilize Venezuela, we think it instructive to present to our readers the text of the letter the international observers to Venezuela’s last presidential election addressed to EU’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy in June 2018.

International observers to Venezuela’s elections have written to Federica Mogherini, High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, about the problems with the EU declaration on the elections.

You can read a short extract of the EU declaration statement and the letter in response below. You can read the full EU declaration here.

Major obstacles to the participation of opposition political parties and their leaders, an unbalanced composition of the National Electoral Council, biased electoral conditions, numerous reported irregularities during the Election Day, including vote buying, stood in the way of fair and equitable elections.
EU Declaration on Venezuelan elections

Dear Ms Mogherini,

I was a member of a roughly hundred-strong core of observers of the May 20 Venezuelan election. We met senior representatives of all the candidates, and questioned them closely. We met with the president and two vice-presidents of the Supreme Judicial Tribunal. We examined the electoral system in detail and, on election day, observed voting procedures across the country.

We noted, in particular, not only the sophistication of the voting system which, in our collective view, is fraud-proof, but also that every stage, from the vote itself to the collation of returns, their verification and electronic submission, was conducted in the presence of representatives of the contending parties. As for “reporting irregularities”, we would be interested to hear of examples, since the reporting system is exceptionally rigorous and tamper-free. We doubt you have any evidence to back up the EU’s claim of “numerous reporting irregularities”.

We were unanimous in concluding that the elections were conducted fairly, that the election conditions were not biased, that genuine irregularities were exceptionally few and of a very minor nature. There was no vote buying because there is no way that a vote CAN be bought. The procedure itself precludes any possibility of anyone knowing how a voter cast her or his vote; and it is impossible – as we verified – for an individual to vote more than once or for anyone to vote on behalf of someone else.  [our emphasis, OffGuardian]

In short, the claims in your press release are fabrications of the most disgraceful kind, based on hearsay and not on evidence and unworthy of the EU. It has not escaped notice that the EU was invited to send observers to the election and declined to do so. NONE of the criticism in your EU press release is, therefore, based on direct EU observation in the field.

I would be happy to discuss this further with you and to put you or your colleagues in touch with other observers – among whom were senior politicians, academics, election officials, journalists and civil servants from many different nations including: Spain, UK, Northern Ireland, Germany, Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, Chile, Honduras, Italy, several Caribbean countries, South Africa, Tunisia, China, Russia,and the United States (sic).

Yours sincerely,

Jeremy Fox, journalist / writer
Jospeh Farrell, Board of the Centre for Investigative Journalism
Calvin Tucker, journalist MS
Dr Francisco Dominguez, Latin American Studies, Middlesex University


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Kamal Undur
Kamal Undur
Jan 23, 2022 2:17 AM

Ukraine is the current hot topic, and Russia dubbed as the “enemy”. Watch this for a different perspective: https://www.cigionline.org/multimedia/travails-empire/

Guy
Guy
May 8, 2019 4:36 PM

Very important letter indeed.I will share as widely possible.Thank you for providing this information as it goes a long way in disproving the lies we have been told.

alaffcreator
alaffcreator
Mar 11, 2019 8:32 PM

Oh, it’s always funny to read this kind of stuff from official EU/US institutions. You know, some parallel Universe.
Science fiction writers should pay attention to the statements of European and American officials. They would be surprised HOW one can come up with stories.

Just wondering – if the EU released THIS kind of statement regarding elections in Venezuela, then WHAT kind of statement they should release after the elections in Ukraine?! Just to remind, there’re still ~3 weeks before the Ukrainian presidential elections, but we ALREADY have this:

1) Fake criminal case against one of the candidates, Viktor Medvedchuk.
2) Attacks on candidates, douche them with green paint.
3) Refusal to Russian observers to attend the elections, even as part of an international commission.

4) Adoption of a state law(!) prohibiting Russian observers from attending elections.
5) OSCE essentially sided with the Kiev regime, “advising” the Russians to refuse to observe elections in Ukraine.
6) About 40(!) candidates, which is a mockery of the elections, and in the words of PACE is a problem (http://www.assembly.coe.int/nw/xml/News/News-View-EN.asp?newsid=7399&lang=2&cat=31).

7) Fake technical candidates paid by oligarchs to “disperse” votes.
8) Ban on nominee from the communist party to participate in elections.
9) N.Savchenko was not allowed to become a presidential candidate (for some reason, the West was so worried about A.Navalny when he was not admitted to the elections in Russia).

10) Essentially, the neglect of the votes of those Ukrainians who live in the Russian Federation (refusal to open electoral sites in the Russian Federation) + in the Donbass. These are millions of votes.
11) The census has not been conducted since 2001; the exact number of the country’s population is unknown; the intention to use “dead souls” to falsify election results.
12) There are already twice as many ballots printed as needed (“in advance, for the 2nd round”).

13) Refusal to German observers to attend the elections.
14) Clearing the information field (silencing critics), bullying journalists, “searching” the journalist V.Skachko.
15) Wiretapping presidential candidate V.Zelensky.

16) Bribing of voters, corruption scandal with Poroshenko.
17) Falsification of ratings of candidates, “inflation” of Poroshenko’s rating.

But sure no problem for the EU/US officials. Good, legitimate, democratic elections in Ukraine.
Surely if all this related to elections in Russia, then EU/US officials would favorably and calmly accept the results of such elections. Sure.

KIT JONES
KIT JONES
Mar 11, 2019 10:01 AM

(herewith my comment which I would like shared by those who would like to-kj)
PLEASE, SHARE WIDELY
I believe this [TheGuardian} news article is written in support of the work of Trump, straight out of the CIA playbook to overthrow a democratically elected Maduro with CIA-schooled & -trained Guaidó, a puppet for the 1% oligarchs’ rape & pillaging of Venezuela’s treasure & resources. If this were not true, we would be helping the people there, instead of beating the drums of war….exactly like in the Middle East. A link to more on the cleanness of the election of Maduro below.**

These interventions have been predicted for years by our own high-level diplomats, like US Army Col. Lawrence B. “Larry” Wilkerson, retired, former chief of staff to US Sec. of State Colin Powell. He has criticized US foreign policy. Here is an excerpt from the Wikipedia entry on him. [ALL CAPS emphases are mine-kj]: On April 2018, Wilkerson explained in an interview with Sharmini Peries of the Real News Network, why he (Wilkerson) believes the U.S. president “can do anything he pleases with regard to the armed forces of the United States anytime he pleases.” That REASON, says Wilkerson, “IS BECAUSE THE AMERICAN PEOPLE ARE APATHETIC” and “THEIR REPRESENTATIVES IN THE CONGRESS ARE…COWARDS” who, but for “few EXCEPTIONS LIKE Mike Lee and BERNIE SANDERS and some of the others,” will not do anything to restrain such exercise of presidential power. He also goes on to state that COMMERCIAL INTERESTS RELATED TO OIL AND GAS IS WHY THE US WOULD INTERVENE IN VARIOUS PLACES OVERSEAS [LIKE IN VENEZUELA NOW-kj] including the Middle East and Afghanistan; and that OTHER REASONS FOR JUSTIFYING US INTERVENTION “IS JUST LYING TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE”and that the US HAS A LONG HISTORY OF LYING TO JUSTIFY INTERVENTION, giving the examples of the Vietnam, Iraq, and Afghanistan wars.

**https://off-guardian.org/2019/03/08/international-observers-to-venezuelas-election-pen-letter-to-the-eu/

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/mar/10/venezuela-blackout-day-four-maduro-fear-anger?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other

Tom
Tom
Mar 10, 2019 12:23 AM

EU declaration on Venezuelan election. Funny, I thought they were referring to Ukraine or Israeli elections. Silly me.

JudyJ
JudyJ
Mar 9, 2019 1:23 PM

As the intro above the letter states, the letter was addressed to Mogherini In June 2018 and has been resurrected by (‘alternative’) commentators over the past few weeks because of recent events. What I find particularly irksome is the contempt displayed by the EU in obviously refusing to give any credence to the contents. They’ve had many months to dwell on the contents of a letter of reputable origin written on the basis of first-hand experience yet they and their member states still indulge in promoting the fake news that the 2018 election was corrupt.

DunGroanin
DunGroanin
Mar 9, 2019 1:20 AM

Why is there no coverage about what exactly is the reason for the power cuts and why the UN isn’t offering help?

alaffcreator
alaffcreator
Mar 11, 2019 8:57 PM
Reply to  DunGroanin

The UN? Offering help? You must be kidding.
In Syrian crisis they, in fact, sided with terrorists (aka “moderate opposition”).
I highly recommend to read this book of an acting Russian diplomat:
https://alaff84.wordpress.com/aleppo-war-and-diplomacy/

Perhaps the UN activities in Syrian crisis will be a discovery for you. Unpleasant discovery.
So why would the UN do the right thing in Venezuela? Leave your illusions.

The UN has become an old whore who serves the one who pays the most.
This old whore is blind and deaf when necessary, in accordance with the wishes of the customer.
While all key posts in the UN are controlled by the Westerners, one should not expect anything useful and productive from the UN.

PETER REIBEL
PETER REIBEL
Mar 8, 2019 9:28 PM

iT SEEMS TO ME that the world had finally grown up and is starting to conduct itself in ethical ways that is pissing the manipulators off. People are taking back honesty, are not following the wishes of the eletists and one world promoters, and the facsists as they struggle to im,pose their will on millions of persons all over the world. This is the way to defeat them——yell out loud every time they are caught in their push for control.
Regect their lies, false news, and propaganda. You have always been a proud country and your conduct in this election says so in very loud terms. BRAVO

Hugh O'Neill
Hugh O'Neill
Mar 8, 2019 8:06 PM

Going off on a historical tangent: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Overthrow_of_the_Kingdom_of_Hawaii
As Mark Twain said: History may not repeat, but it does rhyme. The remarkable element of this 1893 story was the speed with which other colonial powers and their vassals rushed to recognise the clearly illegitimate new President. It also showed that US corporate corruption was far more powerful than President Grover Cleveland.
In my fantasy world, goTulsi Gabbard 2020.

Rhys Jaggar
Rhys Jaggar
Mar 8, 2019 6:56 PM

Well I am glad this is published here, but it needs to go very viral, suggesting it needs to be posted on at least 100 independent websites worldwide.

Perhaps one should have a report put up documenting the absolute lies about Russia invading Crimea, posted repeatedly in the US MSM and compare it to reports of observers on the ground of a peaceful democratic referendum leading to a province rejoining the Russian Federation.

Same about Syria and chemical attacks.

Same about Iraq and WMD, the Niger nonsense and all the crap about a ‘clear and present danger’ (which was about as real as the danger Tony Blair presented to his wife concerning unconsensual sex within marriage).

Then it might be worth raising a case of linking propaganda lies to a criminal court (like the ICC) indicting the entire Boards of AP, Reuters and AP Presse for spreading Security Service Propaganda and other undiluted claptrap without any form of due diligence, thereby inciting acts of war through breaking all journalistic standards and selling make-believe rubbish as ‘news’ to all the MSM worldwide.

Of course, Immunity might be granted if defendants named high-ranking security service- and government officials providing propaganda for such agencies to syndicate, as you can be sure that SD, Pentagon, DoD, CIA, NSA etc and European vassal state equivalents have warmongers fully participating in the flagrant breaches of international law fuelled by made-up propaganda.

I have zero interest in taking years to bring a case to court, as by then three more wars may have started. I suggest making the accusations on the floor of the UN and calling for a vote proposing such a case be brought before 2019 is out.

It would give a unique opportunity for 150+ nations to stand together against the Goebbels-like nazis seeking to start wars anywhere and everywhere in blatant contravention of every Treaty, Convention and precedent ever set for respectable, respectful actions in the International Setting.

mark
mark
Mar 8, 2019 7:42 PM
Reply to  Rhys Jaggar

There is a legal precedent for this – the hanging of Julius Streicher at Nuremberg.

Wilmers31
Wilmers31
Mar 9, 2019 12:14 AM
Reply to  Rhys Jaggar

Yes, persistently saying that Crimea was invaded is very disconcerting. My friend Olga, who is from Crimea, still has her parents living there although she lives in Australia now, says “What is it that they do not understand about autonomous region??’

The EU and Signora Mogherini will one day learn their transatlantic smooching is unproductive and outdated.

IntergenerationalTrauma
IntergenerationalTrauma
Mar 8, 2019 4:45 PM

In other words, the Venezuelan election was much more free and democratic than the last presidential election here in the U.S. Here the Democratic Party, as is well documented by the Wikileaks email release, literally biased the entire primary process, stole the nomination from Bernie Sanders, and handed it on a platter to Hillary Clinton. Our election fraud, open and clear for the entire world to see, simply can’t be discussed in with honesty in Western MSM. Thus instead we are all subject to the endless drivel about a Russian clickbait troll farm and images of Pokemon, and other cartoon characters as “evidence” of outside Russian election interference. So blatant was/is the corruption of the Democratic Party that in a lawsuit contesting this fraud, the attorney representing the Democratic Party argued to the judge that the party had no obligation to follow it’s own rules, and can choose the candidate it prefers behind closed doors if it desires. This was literally the argument as to why no “election fraud” occurred. There is simply no longer even a pretense that we respect “democracy” here in the U.S.

In a world that placed value on the validity of actual “events that place in the physical world,” and on “reason,” and on “evidence” – it would be easy to deduce that the Venezuelan president was democratically elected and the American president was not. Therefore Venezuela is a functioning democracy and the United States is not. Unfortunately we do not live in such a world. Rather we live in a world of make-believe, of mass-produced and mass-consumed delusions – credulously accepted by a Western populace that appears incapable of facing reality and thus lives in some nether world further and further removed from real world with each passing day.

notheonly1
notheonly1
Mar 8, 2019 1:35 PM

Please allow me to insert a very revealing image. If it stays, that is. The image in question is a mug shot of sorts – depicting the Venezuelan traitor Guiadito and two representatives of the openly-Fascist-again-and-proud-of-it-German regime’s foreign putschist service.
comment image

If the image won’t show here, it will on the website contained in the above link – as long as it is available there.

vierotchka
vierotchka
Mar 8, 2019 11:17 AM

This is a very significant and important letter, it should be shared as widely as possible by everyone.

Paul
Paul
Mar 8, 2019 11:05 AM

It’s the old tactic of repeating a lie again and again until it acquires the appearance of truth …

vexarb
vexarb
Mar 8, 2019 10:59 AM

Cut’n’Paste from the real world:

“Fidel than Raul, defied US imperialism for six decades”.

“Venezuela is the major geopolitical test of our times. It might be even more critical than Syria, because this time around it is an [_explicit_] conflict between Imperial Capitalism and a Socialist state,” Mercier opined [Even though Syria is a socialist country, NATZO did not offer it ‘protection’ for that reason].

“this proxy war scenario would be a disaster for Venezuela and the region”, stressing that “if Venezuela’s military stay loyal to Maduro, it is regardless doomed to fail”.

https://www.globalresearch.ca/venezuelas-stalled-coup-us-allies-may-soon-regret-they-rushed-to-embrace-guaido/5669317

Fair dinkum
Fair dinkum
Mar 8, 2019 10:40 AM

Greeted with a deafening silence.
Blind hubris rules.