There is a claim the turnout figures in Venezuela's recent election for a new assembly were "tampered" with
There is a claim the turnout figures in Venezuela’s recent election for a new assembly were “tampered” with.
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
It comes from a company in London that provides electoral support services to the country.
Venezuela’s opposition, which boycotted the ballot, has also disputed the turnout figures.
#UPDATE Venezuela’s Maduro to swear in new assembly as vote turnout questioned https://t.co/pIkNUeIgyv pic.twitter.com/QxiF0bOZvU
— AFP news agency (@AFP) August 2, 2017
Antonio Mugica, Chief Executive Officer and Director of Smartmatic, told a news conference in London: “An audit would allow everyone to know the exact participation. We estimate the difference between the actual participation and the one announced by the authorities is at least one million votes.
“It is important to point out that this would not have occurred if the auditors of all political parties had been present at every stage of the election.”
‘No doubt’ official turnout figures for Venezuela’s election were inflated, says tech company CEO https://t.co/kPxPqa8DXY pic.twitter.com/aPj6RnpzCi
— ITV News (@itvnews) August 2, 2017
President Maduro has come under fire both at home and abroad for pushing ahead with the setting up of the so-called constituent assembly.
Virtually all the candidates are his supporters.
The recent arrest of key Venezuelan opposition figures has also been condemned.
The arrest of opposition figures leaves many Venezuelans worried about a move toward dictatorship https://t.co/AYgJm227O3
— New York Times World (@nytimesworld) August 2, 2017