EU, Spain reiterate rejection of official election results in Venezuela

MADRID

The top EU diplomat and the Spanish government reiterated on Friday their refusal to recognize the official election results in Venezuela.

Venezuela's Supreme Court ruled Thursday that President Nicolas Maduro won the July 28 presidential election.

EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell told reporters following a conference at a university in Spain that the results have not been verified.

“Our hope for this fades every day. There will be no recognition unless the electoral records are verified transparently,” said Borrell, a Spanish politician.

The Spanish government also refuses to recognize the results until all records are published in a verifiable way, Spanish news agency EFE reported, referring to Foreign Ministry sources.

As the highest judicial authority, the Supreme Court validates the legitimacy of elections in Venezuela. When election results are disputed, it issues a final ruling, and its confirmation of Maduro's victory made the results legally binding.

According to Venezuela’s electoral council, Maduro won 51.2% of the vote, securing a third term. Opposition candidates Edmundo Gonzalez and Maria Corina Machado have rejected the outcome.

*Writing in Ankara