The US is requesting a recount of votes in Venezuela.
Venezuela in turmoil once again; Henrique Capriles calls for three days of street protests demanding a recount; Nicolás Maduro calls for a victory rally; White House spokesman does not recognize the result; Jay Carey says a definitive decision now would be "inconsistent"; a recount "seems to be an important, prudent and necessary step," says the US; OAS also wants a new count; opposition leader Capriles' defeat was officially by less than 250 votes; "Without an audit of everything, he will be an illegitimate president," he said about Maduro.
247 - The United States has joined the pressure campaign for a recount of the votes in the Venezuelan presidential election held on Sunday, which ended in a narrow victory for Chavista candidate Nicolás Maduro over opposition candidate Henrique Capriles. A new vote count, as requested by Capriles and his supporters, "seems to be an important, prudent and necessary step to ensure that all Venezuelans have confidence in the results," said White House spokesman Jay Carney, expressing the official position of the American government on Monday, January 15.
For Carney, the result, without a recount, is "inconsistent." According to official figures, Maduro beat Capriles by less than 250 votes, securing 50,75% against 48,98% for his right-wing opponent. This result was reached with 99,2% of the votes counted.
In a press conference, Carney avoided acknowledging the Obama administration's recognition of Maduro's victory. He only congratulated the Venezuelan population on the electoral process, which saw an abstention rate of around 20%. A recount in Venezuela can be done using paper ballots, which were cast by voters after the electronic vote.
Earlier, opposition candidate Henrique Capriles said that rival Nicolás Maduro will be an illegitimate president if there is no recount of the votes. "The Venezuelan people have the right to audit the elections and know the truth. Until every vote is counted, until everything is audited, there is an illegitimate president."
On Monday, the Secretary General of the OAS, José Miguel Insulza, advocated for a recount of the votes and offered a team of electoral experts to assist in the process.