OAS fails to reach agreement to initiate impartial investigation into Venezuela’s elections: which countries abstained?
The Organization of American States’ (OAS) has voted on initiating an impartial probe into Venezuela’s election, but failed to reach an agreement.
The Organization of American States has failed to reach an agreement on initiating an impartial investigation into the recent elections in Venezuela, which incumbent president Nicolas Maduro won.
The OAS election observation department had said earlier this week that it could not recognize the outcome reported by the country’s national electoral council declaring Maduro the winner of the contested vote.
The 35-member OAS then met to decide on and push for a resolution to begin the probe, but the motion did not garner enough votes- they needed 18 to pass the motion but only had 17.
Mexico, Saint Vincent, Trinidad & Tobago were absent from the proceedings, as was Venezuela.
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Here are the countries that abstained from voting:
ABSTENTIONS
- Belize
- Bolivia
- Barbados
- Brazil
- Colombia
- Dominica
- Granada
- Honduras
- St. Kitts
- St. Lucia
- Antigua & Barbuda
- Bahamas
These are the countries that voted in favor of the investigation:
In favor of investigating Venezuela's election results
- Canada
- Chile
- Costa Rica
- Ecuador
- El Salvador
- United States
- Guatemala
- Guyana
- Haita
- Jamaica
- Panama
- Paraguay
- Peru
- Dominican Republic
- Surinam
- Uruguay
- Argentina
Maduro’s stay in power
The incumbent assumed the role of interim president after Hugo Chavez died in March 2013, then won the presidential election held a month later by a narrow margin against opposition candidate Henrique Capriles.
Maduro was re-elected in 2018 in a highly controversial election, which was widely criticized by international observers and opposition parties for alleged irregularities and lack of transparency.
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Under his tenure, Venezuela has faced severe economic difficulties, such as hyperinflation and the significant devaluation of the Venezuelan Bolivar.
Maduro’s government has also been accused of political repression, including jailing opposition leaders and cracking down on protests. Various international organizations have criticized his administration for human rights abuses.