Alabama Voices Venezuelans Approve Referendum: Venezuelans on Sunday gave the nod to a referendum pushed by President Nicolás Maduro’s government, asserting sovereignty over a resource-rich slice of neighboring Guyana, as per the country’s electoral authority.
During the five-question referendum, few voters were spotted at polling centers, but the National Electoral Council claimed over 10.5 million votes. The exact interpretation of this number remains unclear.
Venezuela has long contended that the territory was unjustly taken during a border demarcation over a century ago. However, Guyana views the referendum as a move toward annexation, leaving its residents apprehensive.
Voters were posed with questions about supporting the establishment of a state in the disputed Essequibo territory, granting citizenship to its residents, and rejecting the UN’s jurisdiction in settling the disagreement.
Maduro hailed the referendum as a success, emphasizing the significant public participation. Notably, voting centers in Caracas did not witness the usual long lines seen during electoral events.
The International Court of Justice, on Friday, ordered Venezuela not to alter Guyana’s control over Essequibo. However, it did not explicitly ban the referendum. The territory, covering two-thirds of Guyana, is rich in minerals and strategically located near ExxonMobil’s oil discovery in 2015.
Venezuela framed the referendum as an act of patriotism, intertwining it with support for Maduro. The historical dispute dates back to the Spanish colonial era, and Venezuela rejects the 1899 arbitration, alleging conspiracy by Americans and Europeans.
Maduro’s government went all-in with themed music, televised lessons, and social media content to divert attention. The turnout, compared to past electoral events, was lower, prompting Guyana’s President Ali to urge maturity and adherence to the rule of law for a peaceful resolution.
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Our Reader’s Queries
Who does the United States recognize as the president of Venezuela?
In 2019, during the Venezuelan presidential crisis, Nicolás Maduro declared that Venezuela was ending connections with the United States. This followed President Trumps announcement that the U.S. acknowledged Juan Guaidó, the President of the National Assembly, as the temporary President.
How long was Chavez in power?
Hugo Rafael Chávez Frías, also known as the president of Venezuela from 1999 until 2013, passed away on March 5, 2013. He also had a short break from his presidency for forty-seven hours in 2002. Chávez Frías was not only a politician but also a military officer. His full name is pronounced as [?u?o rafa?el ?t?a?es ?f?i. as].