Major global groups are finding it difficult to overtly condemn apparent fraud in Venezuela’s presidential election, with key member states instead playing defense for President Nicolás Maduro.
The Organization of American States (OAS) and the European Union top the list — both organizations were barreling toward full-throated censure of Maduro until the Venezuelan regime’s allies stepped in.
In Europe, Hungary’s authoritarian-friendly government blocked an EU statement expressing concerns about “flaws and irregularities” in the election.
Josep Borrell, the EU’s foreign policy chief, later released the statement under his own name.
Across the pond, Brazil, Mexico and Colombia, the three largest Latin American countries by population, led the push to give Maduro a pass.
“The irony of all this, obviously, is that Colombia, Mexico and Brazil, all those leaders were democratically elected, but yet they fail to somewhat apply those same democratic principles to another country, in this case, Venezuela,” said Eddy Acevedo, chief of staff and senior adviser at the Wilson Center.
The OAS Permanent Council failed to pass a resolution condemning Maduro on Wednesday, though 17 members voted in favor, 11 abstained — including Brazil and Colombia — and five delegations, including Mexico, skipped the session.
Though no members voted against the resolution, it required an absolute majority of 18 votes for approval.
