Venezuelan Official Raises Concerns Over Election Results

Juan Carlos Delpino, a senior member of Venezuela's National Electoral Council (CNE), has publicly denounced significant irregularities surrounding the July 28 presidential elections that declared Nicolás Maduro the winner. Delpino highlighted several issues, including the eviction of opposition witnesses from polling stations and the interruption in the transmission of results, which he claims was unjustly attributed to alleged hacking. He stated that these factors have led to a profound lack of transparency and trust in the election process, undermining its legitimacy. Delpino, who did not attend the CNE's announcement ceremony due to these concerns, emphasized that the announced results do not reflect the true will of the Venezuelan people and have fueled skepticism both domestically and internationally. His statements come amidst allegations of electoral fraud from the opposition and criticism from various foreign governments. This marks a rare dissent from within the CNE, as Delpino was appointed by Maduro's allies in the National Assembly.