Turnout figures for Sunday's controversial vote to create constituent assembly in Venezuela were "tampered with", according to the company that provided the voting system.
"We estimate the difference between the actual participation and the one announced by authorities is at least one million votes," he said yesterday, speaking in London. "We know, without any doubt, that the turnout of the recent election for a national constituent assembly was manipulated."
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
According to the country's electoral council, more than eight million people cast their ballot.
Mugica declined to answer directly whether the turnout numbers changed the result of the election, but did say the authorities in Venezuela "would not be sympathetic to what we'd say". He added he had not yet passed the evidence to the electoral council.
According to internal electoral council figures reviewed by Reuters, only 3.7 million people had voted by 5.30pm local time on Sunday.
Given that the opposition refused to field candidates, "turnout is seen as crucial in the vote", says the BBC, with the figure giving an indication of support for the government.
President Nicolas Maduro responded to Mugica's claims by accusing Smartmatic of bowing to US pressure.
"That stupid guy, the president of Smartmatic, pressured to the neck by the gringos and the Brits, said there were 7.5 million [voters]," he said, reports the Guardian. "I think there were ten million Venezuelans who went out."
-
Margaret Atwood’s ‘deliciously naughty’ memoirIn the Spotlight ‘Bean-spilling’ book by The Handmaid’s Tale author is ‘immensely readable’
-
Being a school crossing guard has become a deadly jobUnder the Radar At least 230 crossing guards have been hit by cars over the last decade
-
Crossword: November 4, 2025The Week's daily crossword
-
Nigeria confused by Trump invasion threatSpeed Read Trump has claimed the country is persecuting Christians
-
What is Donald Trump planning in Latin America?Today’s Big Question US ramps up feud with Colombia over drug trade, while deploying military in the Caribbean to attack ships and increase tensions with Venezuela
-
Sanae Takaichi: Japan’s Iron Lady set to be the country’s first woman prime ministerIn the Spotlight Takaichi is a member of Japan’s conservative, nationalist Liberal Democratic Party
-
Russia is ‘helping China’ prepare for an invasion of TaiwanIn the Spotlight Russia is reportedly allowing China access to military training
-
Interpol arrests hundreds in Africa-wide sextortion crackdownIN THE SPOTLIGHT A series of stings disrupts major cybercrime operations as law enforcement estimates millions in losses from schemes designed to prey on lonely users
-
China is silently expanding its influence in American citiesUnder the Radar New York City and San Francisco, among others, have reportedly been targeted
-
How China uses 'dark fleets' to circumvent trade sanctionsThe Explainer The fleets are used to smuggle goods like oil and fish
-
One year after mass protests, why are Kenyans taking to the streets again?today's big question More than 60 protesters died during demonstrations in 2024
