Link to Article: https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/eu-deploy-election-observation-mission-venezuela-2021-09-29/
With Venezuela’s elections coming up soon, the European Union has sent a number of election observation officials to Venezuela, after receiving an invitation from Venezuela’s National Electoral Council. More than 3,000 government officials are up for election in Venezuela this November. The EU observers are tasked with observing this year’s election, as well as providing insight as to how the election could be improved upon. For three years, the United States attempted to remove Venezuela’s socialist President Nicolas Maduro from power. The United States employed heavy sanctions and aided in the formation of a Venezuelan opposition party. However, despite Venezuela’s economic collapse as a result of sanctions, Maduro has still remained president.
EU election officials will begin to arrive in the beginning of October, with others arriving later in the month. After the elections, the EU officials are scheduled to give a report in Caracas on their findings.
The sending of EU election officials to Venezuela is quite surprising, however, it is not likely to do much to increase the integrity of the Venezuelan elections. Venezuela has already been condemned by fellow Mercosur member Brazil for Venezuela’s authoritarian system of government. Venezuela likely invited EU officials to observe the election so they could provide a reliable counter to any possible claims that the election was rigged. However, Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro isn’t willing to sacrifice the possibility of his high-ranking officials being voted out of office, so it is probable that Maduro has the electoral system positioned in such a way that constituents aren’t able to vote out administrators that Maduro wishes to keep in office. It will be interesting, however, to hear the remarks of the EU election officials. The first aspect that is up in the air, is how much of the Venezuelan election system Maduro will allow the EU officials to see.
This situation directly pertains to the involvement of the European Union, an IGO, relating to our classroom discussions. The EU is one of the most powerful IGOs in the world, wielding influence over European countries, and, as evidenced by the situation in Venezuela, countries in other continents as well. Venezuela is a state recognized by the United Nations. Additionally, analysis of this situation requires one to take a global perspective on this issue, as Venezuela and the EU aren’t in the same region. However, an individual analysis of Maduro and his quest for power might be useful in understanding why his government is inviting officials to ensure the integrity of his elections.