Venezuela withdraws diplomats from 7 countries

The Venezuelan government has announced the withdrawal of its diplomatic staff from seven Latin American countries following President Nicolas Maduro’s contentious re-election.

The countries affected by this decision are Argentina, Chile, Costa Rica, Panama, Peru, the Dominican Republic, and Uruguay.

The move, announced on Monday, comes in response to what Caracas terms as “interference” by these countries amid allegations of election fraud. According to a statement released by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Maduro government asserts that the stance of these governments “harms national sovereignty” and has requested that their diplomats leave Venezuela.

In addition to this diplomatic row, six associates of opposition figure Maria Corina Machado, accused of conspiracy, have been taking shelter at the Argentine Embassy since March.

The National Electoral Council (CNE) reported that Maduro, successor of former President Hugo Chavez (1999-2013), won a third consecutive term with 51.2% of the votes, while opposition candidate Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia received 44.2%. However, the opposition rejects these results, claiming they won with 70% of the votes. A joint statement released on Monday by nine Latin American countries—Argentina, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Guatemala, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, the Dominican Republic, and Uruguay—called for a “comprehensive review with the presence of independent electoral observers.”

The United States also voiced serious concerns that the announced result might not reflect the will or vote of the Venezuelan people, while EU Foreign Affairs chief Josep Borrell called for “total transparency,” including a detailed vote count.

In an address, Maduro condemned what he described as attempts by the opposition and the international community to impose a “fascist and counter-revolutionary coup in Venezuela.”

(With inputs from agencies)