On this May 1, a day of international working class solidarity, we in the Philippine labor and progressive movement, stand with the Venezuelan working class and the people of Venezuela in their struggle to elect the government of their choice to pursue their demands and goals for Socialism of the XXI century.
We congratulate Nicholas Maduro from the Partido Socialista Unido de Venezuela on his election victory and condemn the destabilisation campaign conducted by the US backed opposition coalition of Capprilles to undermine the election results and the newly elected government.
We note that the election of President Nicholas Maduro has received wide-spread support across the region, with members of the regional trade bloc Mercosur endorsing a statement congratulating Maduro on his electoral win. Representatives from Colombia, Brazil and the Dominican Republic have also congratulated Maduro, while the Argentinian representative reaffirmed that his nation's observers recognised the elections as successful.
Several European countries have also supported the election results. A spokesperson for the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs has announced the Hollande administration's recognition of the results, describing the Venezuela’s National Electoral Council (CNE) as “the competent authority in the matter”. Spain has also recognised the new government, with the foreign ministry statement that "Now that the constitutional and legal procedures have ended, the government of Spain respects the National Election Board's proclamation of Nicolas Maduro as the president-elect of the Republic of Venezuela."
The Assistant Chief of Staff of Europe's largest trade union, Unite the Union's Adrian Weir who was an election observer has stated that, “the ballot was free and fair” and that “The count was equally transparent and signed off by party witnesses including those of the Capriles’ coalition, the MUD. I’ve witnessed a robust system”.
We note that the US State Department, however, has stated that it will continue to support the opposition calls. The US comments have been criticized by Bolivian President Evo Morales as “flagrant US interference in Venezuela’s democracy...” and that “Neither that spokesperson nor the US government has moral authority to question electoral results in any Latin American country or around the world”. Argentinean President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner has also criticised the State Department, also demanding that “the government of the United States...recognise the Venezuelan government after transparent and fair elections.”
We call on the Philippine government to come out immediately and recognise President Maduro as the legitimately elected President of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela.
Endorsed by:
Francisco Nemenzo, Philippine-Cuba Cultural and Friendship Association (Phil-Cuba)
Reihana Mohideen, Philippines-Venezuela Solidarity Network (Phil-Ven-Sol)
Sonny Melencio, Partido Lakas ng Masa (PLM)
Josua Mata, Alliance of Progressive Labor (APL)
Leody de Guzman, Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino (BMP)
Rene Magtubo, Partido ng Manggagawa (PM)
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