Ahead of a ruling expected from the Supreme Tribunal of Justice, the TSJ, supporters warned that any decision denying the opposition’s July 28 victory would be entirely invalid. If the anticipated outcome is confirmed, the TSJ through its electoral chamber would be violating voters’ inalienable rights and would bear legal, civil, and administrative responsibility. Machado and González Urrutia cited the constitution drafted under Hugo Chávez, noting Article 138, which holds that any usurped authority is ineffective and its acts are nullified.
Opposition leaders argued that almost four weeks after the elections the National Electoral Council, CNE, has yet to publish results or implement verification and monitoring guidelines. They pointed to concerns raised by Brazil, Colombia, the United States, and the European Union, along with other Latin American countries with varied political orientations.
The UN Panel of Electoral Experts and the Carter Center not only questioned the CNE’s procedures but also the numbers that were released incompletely. For Machado and González Urrutia, it is inconceivable that the CNE announced a Maduro victory without presenting the evidence that they have and have offered to the Venezuelan people and the world. The Platform for Democratic Unity, PUD, remains convinced that their candidate won the contest. The document calls for transparency and strict adherence to the rule of law and rejects any attempt to judicialize the democratic change the people voted for. It also notes Maduro’s move to file an injunction with the TSJ to decide the dispute, aligning with government interests and aiming to settle the matter before the week ends. It is asserted that the Electoral Chamber of the TSJ lacks the authority to perform such functions in this context. The document argues that this would trample the people’s decision expressed at the polls.
In the section titled More Challenges, Machado and González Urrutia’s challenge mirrors an earlier filing by former CNE rector and recent presidential hopeful Enrique Márquez. Márquez went to the TSJ to seek the removal of the president of the Electoral Chamber, Caryslia Beatriz Rodríguez, for her official alignment with the governing party. He stated that a judge cannot administer justice if impartiality is missing, highlighting Rodríguez’s disclosed political ties and past positions as a Caracas official in 2022. Márquez reminded readers that Rodríguez has never hidden her associations with the ruling movement.
According to Márquez, if the CNE and the TSJ have nothing to hide and the government has nothing to conceal either, the natural question is why observers from the parties and candidates are not allowed to witness and attest to what is happening. The question remains: what is truly unfolding behind closed doors?
Additional contestations
The opposition’s filing follows a broader pattern of challenges. Observers have urged for independent verification and public access to data in order to reassure both domestic and international audiences. The debate continues as both sides await decisive rulings that could shape Venezuela’s political landscape for years to come. Independent observers have underscored the need for credible, verifiable results and a transparent process that respects the will of the electorate. The stakes extend beyond the ballot box and touch on the integrity of institutions and the people’s confidence in their government, as reflected in statements from international bodies and regional partners. At issue is not only the immediate outcome but the long-term legitimacy of the electoral process and the protection of civil rights for all Venezuelans.