BBC Mundo reported on 21 May 2018 not only that Nicolas Maduro had won the presidential election held the day before, but also that 52% of the population
did not vote. According to BBC News reporting on 22 May 2018, the
turn-out ranged from 32% to 48%. It was the lowest turn-out in the history of Venezuela and suggests mistrust towards both the current government and the voting system. According to El Nacional reporting on 21 May 2018, 14 countries (including Brazil, Canada, EU states and USA) have
rejected the result, since the elections did not comply with democratic standards.
Rossana Ramirez, persecution analyst at World Watch Research, comments: "At the international level, this victory is considered fraudulent because, among other things, the date of the elections was deliberately brought forward to a time when the country was - and still is - submerged in a serious crisis. There were no international observers, only one opposition candidate and, during the electoral campaign, the regime threatened Venezuelans to go to the polls or face punishment and
arrest and even demanded votes in exchange for food, medicine, and money (see: El Nacional, 12 April 2018). Despite this, many citizens did not vote, showing their distrust of the electoral process and their non-recognition of Maduro's legitimacy in the country."
Rossana Ramirez adds: "The lack of democratic institutions, guarantees and political freedoms will continue to be the repressive background situation for all Christians, regardless of their political affiliation. And this time Maduro will be able to identify all those not supporting him, since voters were required to use a
"˜citizens country card" (carnet de la patria) at the polling stations. (see: Aprodeh, 15 May 2018). It is highly likely that Christians will be targeted for retaliation."
