Many countries, especially those in Latin America, through hard work and dedication, make the transition from an authoritarian regime to a liberal democracy.
In Venezuela, the story seems to be in reverse, and a simple democratic act such as a ballot recount is being denied by the oppressive regime.
The 1999 election of former President Hugo Chávez turned Venezuela’s vibrant democracy to a socialist and controlling government. His 14-year tenure as president made it the longest time a person has ruled over the country, dividing its people.
Chávez reformed the Venezuelan constitution to ensure that the power would lie solely with him. As the regime grew stronger, the Venezuelan people turned against the government, and the true spirit of the Venezuelan people was exposed.
“A people who love freedom, will at the end be free” the notorious Venezuelan liberator Simón Bolivar once said, encompassing the true spirit of his people.
When Chávez died, new elections were called. Venezuelans once more gained the strength and hope that their beloved country would soon return to normal.
On April 14, millions of Venezuelans turned out to vote, with over 80 percent of the population casting their voice for a better Venezuela. The true vision of democracy was displayed.
According to public opinion polls and experts, the election seemed to lean on opposition leader Henrique Capriles, a fighter for human rights and a strong opponent of the Chavistas.
At 11 p.m., Tibisay Lucena, president of the CNE, the National Electoral Council, and a Chavista, announced that Nicolás Maduro had won by a 300,000 vote difference.
The international community immediately learned that the election results had been adapted to favor Maduro, “the son of Chávez.”
The opposition, along with the majority of Venezuelans, protested and did not recognize the election results, thus demanding a recount.
The CNE, Maduro and the rest of the Chavistas in government refused to open the ballot boxes and recount, knowing that this would shed light to the true electoral results.
Venezuela is completely divided, and millions of its people along with foreign leaders demand the smallest act of democracy: a ballot recount.
This simple act could shed light on the true election results and could truly pave the way to the democracy the Venezuelan people truly deserve.
The international community should join voices in this international campaign to demand transparency and, with it, human rights that have long been stripped away from the average Venezuelan citizen.
Salomon Gicherman is a sophomore in the School of International Service and the School of Public Affairs.
edpage@theeagleonline.com