The Venezuelan Armed Forces have firmly rejected the opposition’s call for “military disobedience” following the recent presidential election, which confirmed Nicolás Maduro’s re-election.
Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino López labeled the opposition’s request as a “coup attempt” after defeated candidate Edmundo González Urrutia declared himself the “elected president” without providing evidence.
Commanders from battalions across the nation issued a joint statement condemning the opposition’s actions, emphasizing their commitment to maintaining peace and upholding the election results.
In their statement, the Armed Forces defended the integrity of the electoral process, highlighting their role in supporting all logistical aspects of the election, from setting up polling stations to transporting materials.
The military reaffirmed their loyalty to President Maduro, with López concluding his address with the slogan “Chávez lives, the homeland continues. Always loyal, never traitors.”
The opposition’s call for military personnel to disobey orders and support the opposition’s claims was firmly rejected, with the military underscoring their unity and dedication to the nation’s objectives.
Despite the opposition’s claims of election fraud and their assertion that Edmundo González received 67% of the votes, the National Electoral Council (CNE) declared Maduro the winner with 51.97% of the vote compared to González’s 43.18%, with nearly all votes counted.
The opposition has not provided substantial evidence to challenge the official results or taken legal action to contest them.