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[Global Times Special Correspondent in Brazil Shao Shijun, Global Times Special Correspondent Wang Yi] On the 29th local time, the Venezuelan Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that it would recall diplomats from seven Latin American countries including Argentina, and asked these countries to withdraw their diplomats from Venezuela. On the same day, the Venezuelan National Electoral Commission announced that President Maduro had been re-elected. Some Latin American countries immediately called for a "comprehensive review of Venezuela's election results." In addition, protests took place across Venezuela. But many Latin American countries also supported Maduro's "undisputed victory."

On July 29, 2024, local time, in Caracas, Venezuela, Venezuelan President and presidential candidate Maduro celebrated after the results of the presidential election were released (Visual China)

According to a report by Venezuela's Southern TV on the 29th, according to a statement issued by the Venezuelan Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the same day, Argentina, Chile, Costa Rica, Peru, Panama, the Dominican Republic and Uruguay did not accept Maduro's victory in the presidential election, so Venezuela ordered the withdrawal of all diplomats from these countries and demanded the immediate expulsion of diplomats from these countries in Venezuela. The statement said that this decision was made in consideration of the "catastrophic precedent that undermines our national sovereignty" and that the governments of these countries openly promote "the dirtiest fascist ideology."

The statement also said that Venezuela expressed the strongest opposition to the words and deeds of the Latin American right-wing government group led by Washington. Venezuela will "firmly oppose all actions that undermine the environment of peace and coexistence, which is what the Venezuelan people have been striving for. Interventionist and blockadeist remarks have repeatedly ignored the will of the Venezuelan people."

Venezuela held a presidential election on the 28th, with a total of 10 candidates participating. On the 29th, the Venezuelan National Electoral Council confirmed that Maduro was re-elected as Venezuelan president for a 6-year term. According to AFP on the 30th, foreign ministers of nine countries including Argentina, Panama and Uruguay issued a joint statement on the 29th, calling for all candidate representatives to review the vote count in the presence of independent election observers to ensure that the election results respect the will of the people.

According to Qatar's Al Jazeera TV on the 30th, the fact that the Venezuelan National Electoral Commission has not yet announced the vote count results of 30,000 polling stations across Venezuela has exacerbated political tensions in this South American country. Maduro, 61, claimed in a televised speech in Caracas on the 29th that "someone is trying to launch a coup in Venezuela." He said, "This time, we will not be weak, and Venezuelan laws must be respected."

As Maduro was speaking, demonstrations took place in some parts of Venezuela, with some demonstrators carrying gasoline, Molotov cocktails, knives and stones, and some trying to block the highway connecting the capital. Venezuela's Attorney General Tarek William Saab said on the social platform X that the government has detained at least 15 people on charges of destroying property and national stability, including nine people who destroyed and set fire to the headquarters of the United Socialist Party of Venezuela.

On the evening of the 29th local time, Gonzalez, the candidate of the opposition alliance "Democratic Unity Alliance", reiterated his claim of victory at a press conference, while urging supporters to remain calm. The Brazilian website "Real Brazil" said on the 29th that Maduro was re-elected with 5.15 million votes, and Gonzalez only received 4.45 million votes. The opposition talked about election fraud in the absence of evidence and refused to admit defeat. The international news and analysis website "Samvada World" said on the 30th that the Venezuelan opposition's foreign policy declaration includes maintaining good relations with the United States and its regional allies, while refusing to establish relations with countries that maintain relations with Maduro. Although Venezuela's economy is not good under Maduro's leadership, this cannot be a reason for another country to interfere in Venezuela's internal affairs. Every country must respect the sovereignty of other countries. If there are problems or mistakes within a country, its citizens have the responsibility to deal with and solve these problems. The intervention of external forces such as the United States has undermined Venezuela's integrity and autonomy.

John Kirby, strategic communications coordinator for the U.S. National Security Council, said on the 29th, "There are still some vote counting work to be completed, and we must respect this process. The United States has not made a decision, and I will not make an assertion in advance. We will not comment until the actual election results are announced."

According to the UN News Network on the 29th, UN Secretary-General Guterres praised the Venezuelan people through his spokesman for their "determination to express their will peacefully through the ballot box." His spokesman Dujarric told reporters at the UN headquarters in New York that "the Secretary-General believes that all electoral disputes should be resolved peacefully and calls on all political leaders in Venezuela and their supporters to remain peaceful." Dujarric mentioned that the expert group went to Venezuela earlier this month and they are expected to report to the Secretary-General sometime next week.