Venezuelan President Maduro Orders 10-Day Block of Social Platform X

Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has ordered a 10-day suspension of the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, accusing its owner, Elon Musk, of inciting hatred and unrest following the country’s disputed election. Maduro confirmed he signed a proposal from the National Telecommunication Commission to enforce this block.

In a recent speech, Maduro criticized Musk, asserting that the X owner had breached the platform’s rules. This action follows a week of online exchanges between Maduro and Musk, including Musk’s pointed remark, “I’m coming for you Maduro,” which highlights their escalating conflict. Musk’s criticism is rooted in allegations that Maduro’s recent presidential victory was fraudulent. Reports indicate that opposition candidate Edmundo González garnered more than double the votes Maduro received, yet Maduro was declared the winner without utilizing precinct-level voting data.

The Venezuelan National Electoral Council’s declaration of Maduro as the winner has been widely contested. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken condemned the flawed vote processing and result announcement, stating that the outcome does not reflect the will of the Venezuelan people. The U.S. has denounced the apparent election fraud, but efforts to rally support from international organizations, including the Organization of American States and the European Union, have been thwarted by Maduro’s allies.

Blinken reiterated the U.S.’s “serious concerns” regarding the election results on Monday. He stressed the importance of transparent and fair vote counting, timely sharing of information with opposition and independent observers, and detailed publication of vote tabulations. Blinken underscored that the international community is closely monitoring the situation and will respond as necessary.

The ongoing tensions between the Venezuelan government and international observers reflect deep-seated concerns about the integrity of the electoral process and the broader implications for democratic governance in Venezuela.