Observers blast electoral process, cite numerous illegalities

It is quite hard to win an argument with the Chavistas. After the recall vote they would always resort to the argument that the international observers had given their approval to the process and thus all charges of cheating and treachery were simply sour grapes on the part of the opposition. This time around, not only was it discovered that the voting machines did something they were not supposed to do, raising questions about the secrecy of the votes in the recall vote, but both the OAS and the EU, question even the legality of the process and the reaction is typical: While the Head of the National Assembly called the observers drunks, the President of the CNE graciously called them liars, while the Foreign Minister questioned why the bombs the day before the election were not mentioned in the reports, forgetting that every single bomb in the last seven years has been blamed on the opposition, but not one case has been proven, despite the fact that most of the explosives found are typically military and as far as we know the opposition is as far removed form the military as anyone can be.

In fact, the Head of the Electoral Board continued acting in the same partial way that the observers accused him of today, as Mr. Rodriguez saw his job in possible jeopardy by the recommendation of both observer groups, saying he would not twist his arm, not understanding that he was suppsoed to be fair and balanced to both sides and not the one sided bias he always exhibited. In fact the EU suggest the new CNE should have “professionals of prestige and independence, that may enjoy the trust of all sectors”, a dramatically strong critique of Mr. Rodríguez and his cohorts.

I would leave some details of the statements and comments by the EU and OAS to others here and here, so as not to extend myself too much, but one thing is clear: The usual diplomatic observers noted quite a number of irregularities and illegalities in the process, questioning its validity even if they later used the word transparency and tried to praise the CNE in its accommodations to the opposition complaints. The fact is, that each and every one of the “concessions” of the CNE were requested by the opposition from the beginning, via the technical recommendations of Sumate. But even in the end, and as ratified by the observers, for example, the agreements and the law that says that polling stations close at 4 PM if no voters were present were violated in flagrant fashion by the CNE. And this was only one of many illegalities committed in the process that in any country with the rule of law would imply that the Courts would force the Electoral Board to repeat the elections under better conditions.

The EU observers noted, among many different things the following:

-Wide sectors of Venezuelan society simply do not trust the CNE

-The legal framework is inconsistent and even contradictory

-The Government created a mechanism of fear in the Maisanta database

-The Government used public transportation to mobilize voters

-Government officials campaigned in violation of the law

-The possibility of compromising the secrecy of the vote was found, the EU thins its remote, but it used to be impossible two weeks ago.

-It questioned the legality of the Electoral Board and the contradictions in naming it

-It questions the violation the spirit of the Constitution with the use of the morochas or twins.

-It accuses media on both sides of being partisan, but it acknowledges that state media does not give access to all citizens, while private media gave more access to pro-Government views!

-Voter assistance questions the secrecy of the vote during the voting process

-There was illegal campaign by Government forces near voting centers

-Some people were coerced into signing and stamping their fingerprint as “proof” that they had voted and for whom.

-Voting hours were extended illegally!

-The Electoral Registry should be independently audited (Another forgotten promise)

The OAS is equally drastic, while shorter, as detailed by Daniel and PMBcomments.

What is clear to me is that both groups of observers without explicitly saying it were questioning the legality of the vote that took place on Sunday, from illegal abuse of power, to extended hours, to a questionable CNE board; the observers basically said this process doe not fit the expected standards for an electoral process.

So far Chavez, has not attacked the observers, but even if he questioned abstention, he seemed to gloating once again about his damaged popularity and once again promised the failed mirage of his 10 million voters. If he fails to note what happened on Sunday, he may not even get 10% of that. The opposition did not score a victory at the illegal elections on Sunday, but Chavismo certainly suffered a defeat and the reports by the observers underscore that this happened despite the numerous violations of the law by the Government and the use of massive state resources.