Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland has raised alarms alongside other Western democracies regarding the contentious outcome of Venezuela's presidential election held on Sunday. The electoral authority, which aligns with President Nicolás Maduro, proclaimed him the victor despite objections from the opposition, who assert that their collected figures from polling stations revealed a decisive win for Edmundo González. González had consistently led in various public opinion surveys leading up to the vote.

In statements made to reporters, Freeland emphasized that global democracies are troubled by the election results. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken reiterated her concerns, stating that the declared outcome does not accurately reflect the votes cast by the Venezuelan populace. He underscored the importance of fair vote counting and the need for electoral authorities to promptly provide detailed information to opposition parties and independent observers.

Freeland praised the courage of Venezuelans and their democratic leaders in their ongoing fight against authoritarianism, affirming Canada's longstanding support for the democratic opposition while denouncing the increasingly oppressive nature of Maduro's regime. However, she refrained from confirming whether Canada would formally reject the recognition of Maduro's re-election, a point of contention raised by Conservative Party Leader Pierre Poilievre, who insisted on the importance of acknowledging only genuinely democratic processes.

Countries throughout the region, including Chile, Brazil, Colombia, and Peru, have called for evidence supporting Maduro's claimed victory. Panama has even opted to suspend relations temporarily with the Maduro administration. Argentine President Javier Milei was particularly outspoken, asserting that Venezuelans aimed to end Maduro's dictatorship and conveying that the data suggests a significant defeat for his regime, urging for recognition of this shift against years of socialist challenges.