In response to recent tensions following Venezuela’s controversial election, President Nicolás Maduro has implemented a 10-day ban on the social media platform X. This decision comes in the midst of accusations against Elon Musk, X’s owner, of inciting hatred and discord related to the election results.
Maduro confirmed his approval of a proposal from Venezuela’s National Telecommunication Commission to block the site, previously known as Twitter. In his address, Maduro criticized Musk, stating, “Elon Musk is the owner of X and has violated all the rules of the social network itself,” according to The Associated Press.
10-day X ban in Venezuela follows Maduro-Musk feud over election results.
The decision follows a public dispute between Maduro and Musk. Musk had criticized Maduro’s recent electoral victory, expressing his discontent on X with statements such as, “I’m coming for you Maduro.” Musk’s criticism focuses on the allegations that the election was fraudulent, pointing out that opposition candidate Edmundo González appeared to have received more votes than Maduro.
Despite these claims, Venezuela’s National Electoral Council declared Maduro the victor without considering precinct-level voting data. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken criticized the flawed electoral process, stating, “The results announced do not reflect the will of the Venezuelan people.”
The U.S. has denounced the election as fraudulent, but efforts to garner international support for action against Maduro have faced obstacles. Both the Organization of American States and the European Union were anticipated to condemn the election, but were thwarted by Venezuelan allies.
Blinken reiterated U.S. concerns, emphasizing the need for fair and transparent vote counting and the prompt sharing of information with opposition and independent observers.
