The Organization of American States on Tuesday approved a resolution brought by the US rejecting Venezuela’s elections, with the move expected to lead to the eventual expulsion of Caracas from the body.
The resolution was adopted with 19 votes in favor, four against and 11 abstentions.
It declares the May 20 presidential election which saw President Nicolas Maduro retain power “lacks legitimacy, for not complying with international standards, for not having met the participation of all Venezuelan political actors, and for being carried out without the necessary guarantees for a free, fair, transparent and democratic process.”
The US was joined by Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Mexico and Peru in proposing the measure.
In addition to Venezuela, Bolivia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and Dominica opposed it.
Most of the Caribbean countries, traditional allies of Caracas, abstained, as well as Ecuador, Nicaragua, El Salvador and Uruguay.
It brings the body one step closer to expelling Venezuela, a move which requires an extraordinary general assembly of OAS member states to be held, and another vote with a two-thirds majority.
Caracas, on its part, has already said it plans to pull out.
Separately on Tuesday, the OAS issued a condemnation of the political violence in Nicaragua and appealed to the government and other parties to “demonstrate commitment and engage constructively in peaceful negotiation.”
© Agence France-Presse
